immaculately

IPA/ɪˈmækjələtli/
KK[ˌɪmˈækjələtli]IPA/ɪˈmækjələtli/

immaculately — adverb

1. so clean, neat, and free from dirt or mess that nothing can be found wrong — for

1.adverbB2
Definition

so clean, neat, and free from dirt or mess that nothing can be found wrong — for example, a kitchen scrubbed until it shines, or clothes pressed and spotless.

Example

Reuben's suit was immaculately pressed for the job interview.

immaculately + past participle (pressed)

The kitchen floor was immaculately clean after Padma scrubbed it for an hour.

immaculately + adjective (clean)

Common collocations
  • immaculately clean
  • immaculately tidy
  • immaculately groomed
  • immaculately dressed
  • immaculately kept
Synonyms
  • neatly

    focuses on orderly arrangement rather than spotless cleanliness; less emphatic than immaculately

  • spotlessly

    emphasises complete absence of dirt; slightly more informal than immaculately

  • pristinely

    suggests an untouched, like-new condition; more literary and less common than immaculately

Antonyms
  • messily

    opposite of neat/tidy arrangement

  • sloppily

    suggests careless, untidy execution

Grammar Patterns

immaculately + past participle

immaculately + adjective

Common Mistakes

She wore an immaculately dress.
She wore an immaculate dress.
immaculately is an adverb; use the adjective immaculate to describe a noun directly.

2. done with such great skill and precision that no faults, errors, or imperfection

2.adverbB2
Definition

done with such great skill and precision that no faults, errors, or imperfections remain — for example, a pianist who plays every note correctly, or a speech delivered without a single stumble.

Example

The orchestra played the symphony immaculately under Nikos's direction.

verb + immaculately (played)

Christopher delivered his speech immaculately without a single pause.

verb + immaculately (delivered)

Common collocations
  • immaculately performed
  • immaculately executed
  • immaculately rehearsed
  • immaculately choreographed
  • immaculately planned
Synonyms
  • perfectly

    the most common and general synonym; immaculately adds a nuance of purity or cleanliness to the perfection

  • flawlessly

    emphasises the absence of visible defects; very close in meaning to immaculately, but slightly less formal

  • faultlessly

    suggests correctness in procedure or morality rather than aesthetic perfection; more formal register

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

verb + immaculately

immaculately + past participle

Common Mistakes

The singer performed immaculately and the crowd cheered.
The singer performed immaculately, and the crowd cheered.
a comma is needed before the coordinating conjunction when joining two independent clauses.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/2

Immaculately, perfectly, flawlessly, faultlessly, and neatly all describe work done without errors or blemishes, but they differ in emphasis. Perfectly is the most general: it means something meets every possible standard. Flawlessly focuses on the absence of visible defects — no cracks to find. Faultlessly is more formal and often used of moral or procedural correctness rather than physical appearance. Neatly is more concrete, referring to tidy arrangement rather than high-stakes precision. A pianist can play a concerto immaculately (no wrong notes, perfect timing) or merely neatly (correct but without emotional depth). A shirt can be folded neatly (without wrinkles) or immaculately (so crisp it looks brand new).

perfectly ↗flawlessly ↗faultlessly ↗neatly ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • immaculately dressed
  • immaculately clean
  • immaculately maintained
  • immaculately organised
  • immaculately presented
  • immaculately kept

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin immaculātus, from in- ('not') + maculātus ('spotted, stained'), past participle of maculāre ('to spot, stain'). The word entered English via French in the mid-15th century, originally referring to moral or spiritual purity, and later extended to physical cleanliness and perfection in skill.