instrumentally.

1. As a means of achieving a purpose rather than as an end valued for itself.

2. By playing musical instruments rather than using voices.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• instrumentally valuable
• instrumentally rational

On the page

The argument treats education as instrumentally valuable because it improves later opportunities.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic / formal. Forms: Invariable adverb. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: analysis, explanation, qualification. Commonness: uncommon.