fairly lowly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly lowly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is relatively low in status, rank, or importance. Example: "Despite his fairly lowly position in the company, he managed to make a significant impact on the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Artajo, who is currently in Spain fighting extradition to the United States, was a fairly lowly figure in the bank.

The New Yorker

My friend Ewan, an unashamed foodie who's been to many more restaurants on the list than I, picks l'Astrance in Paris (a fairly lowly 33) as his favourite.

Independent

Wired editor David Rowan discovered what it is like to get into a fight with Yiannopoulos when his technology magazine put him at a fairly lowly 98 in its list of the 100 "innovators and influencers shaping the Wired world".

The Guardian

(Significantly, the apparatus didn't function right away — no experiment ever really works the first time you try it, for the same reason that no child's toy ever works on Christmas morning, the first time you assemble it — and it was a fairly lowly assistant who eventually made the discovery).

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Correlation coefficients falling in the intervals 0 to < 0.20, 0.20 to < 0.40, 0.40 to < 0.60, 0.60 to < 0.80 and 0.80 to 1 were said to be un-, lowly-, fairly-, moderandly- and highly- correlated, respectively.

BMC Cancer

As it happens, I did not go to journalism school, went straight to my first newspaper from university and became a (very lowly) foreign correspondent  fairly early on in my career.

The Economist

He traded this fairly high-prestige job for a lowlier one as an actuary with the Mutual Insurance Company.

The New York Times - Arts

If that's true, it's an absolute trainwreck; I'm fairly confident in saying that even the lowliest, rattiest dumb phone that carriers only keep around in the backroom for the sake of the people who come in demanding a phone that does absolutely nothing besides call people sells more than 503 units in two months.

TechCrunch

My Poly Role Models blog, while a fairly popular free resource, couldn't hope to hit the broadcast range of even the lowliest New York Times article.

Huffington Post

His beginnings were lowly.

The Economist

Peasant girl still too lowly?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fairly lowly", ensure the context clearly establishes the scale or comparison group against which the subject is being evaluated. For instance, "a fairly lowly position within the hierarchy" specifies the relevant comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "fairly lowly" when you intend to convey a significantly inferior or degraded state. The "fairly" modifier indicates a moderate degree; if you mean 'extremely low', choose stronger adjectives such as "abject" or "degraded" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly lowly" functions as a compound adjective modifying a noun. It describes the degree to which something is low in rank, status, or importance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fairly lowly" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that signifies something is moderately low in rank, status, or importance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and its suitable alternatives are "relatively humble" and "somewhat insignificant". It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, where it serves to qualify descriptions without resorting to extremes. When using "fairly lowly", make sure the context clearly defines the scope of comparison and avoid it where the intent is to portray a significantly lower state. Despite its correctness, this expression appears relatively rarely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively unimportant

Directly states the lack of importance.

relatively humble

Focuses on the modest or unpretentious aspect of being low in status, rather than a strict ranking.

somewhat insignificant

Emphasizes the lack of importance or consequence.

moderately subordinate

Highlights the hierarchical position of being lower in rank or authority.

rather minor

Suggests a limited degree of importance or significance.

comparatively unremarkable

Indicates a lack of distinction or exceptional quality.

quite modest

Stresses the unassuming and restrained nature of the subject.

slightly inferior

Directly implies a lower quality or standing compared to something else.

reasonably obscure

Highlights the lack of fame or recognition.

somewhat base

Highlights a fundamental or foundational, and therefore lower, position.

FAQs

What does "fairly lowly" mean?

The phrase "fairly lowly" means something is relatively low in status, rank, or importance. It indicates a moderate degree of lowness, rather than an extreme one.

How can I use "fairly lowly" in a sentence?

You can use "fairly lowly" to describe someone's position, a restaurant's ranking, or any entity that can be placed on a scale of importance. For instance, "He had a fairly lowly position in the bank."

What are some alternatives to "fairly lowly"?

Some alternatives to "fairly lowly" include "relatively humble", "somewhat insignificant", or "moderately subordinate", depending on the context.

Is "fairly lowly" the same as "very lowly"?

No, "fairly lowly" indicates a moderate degree of lowness, while "very lowly" suggests a much greater degree of inferiority or insignificance. Use the phrase that best reflects the intended level of lowness.