# mostly

> English word · Adverb · IPA /ˈməʊstli/ · frequency rank #1,568

## Definitions
1. Mainly or chiefly; for the most part; usually, generally, on the whole.
2. To the greatest extent; most.

## Etymology
From most + -ly.

## Easily confused with
- **Mosul** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mostly-vs-mosul)
- **musty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mostly-vs-musty)
- **motley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mostly-vs-motley)
- **most** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/most-vs-mostly)
- **moly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/moly-vs-mostly)
- **molly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/molly-vs-mostly)
- **Monty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/monty-vs-mostly)
- **misty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/misty-vs-mostly)
- **Morty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/morty-vs-mostly)
- **Mosby** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mosby-vs-mostly)
- **mossy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mossy-vs-mostly)
- **Mosley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mosley-vs-mostly)
- **monthly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/monthly-vs-mostly)
- **Moseley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/moseley-vs-mostly)
- **modestly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/modestly-vs-mostly)

## Common misspellings (10)
`mmostly`, `moslty`, `mosstly`, `mostlly`, `mostlyy`, `mosttly`, `mostyl`, `motsly`, `msotly`, `omstly`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mostly