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potentiellement

potentially

adverb poh-tahn-syel-MAHN Rare

Usage Note

Potentiellement signals that something may happen or may be true under certain conditions — cela pourrait potentiellement causer des problèmes. It is a favourite of administrative and media language. In informal speech, peut-être or éventuellement often replace it, though éventuellement is a false friend — it means 'possibly' not 'eventually'.

Examples

"Ce médicament est potentiellement dangereux."

Natural Translation

This medication is potentially dangerous.

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