superficially.

1. In a way that considers only obvious features and misses deeper details or causes.

2. Only at or near the outer surface of something.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• superficially similar
• superficially convincing

On the page

The accounts are superficially similar, but they assign responsibility very differently.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic / formal. Forms: invariable adverb. Writing functions: comparison, evaluation, description. Commonness: moderately common. Important senses separated; legacy fields mirror sense 1.