'ethnographically' originates from Greek via New Latin and modern English: from the Greek words 'ethnos' and 'graphein', where 'ethnos' meant 'people, nation' and 'graphein' meant 'to write'. The element '-graphy' (writing/description) formed 'ethnography', the adjective 'ethnographic', and then the adverbial suffix '-ally' produced 'ethnographically'.

'ethnographically' developed from the noun 'ethnography' (from New Latin 'ethnographia'), which was borrowed from Greek roots; English formed the adjective 'ethnographic' and then the adverb 'ethnographically' by adding the adverbial suffix '-ally' in modern English.

Initially the root referred to 'writing about peoples' (the practice of describing peoples), and over time it broadened to mean 'in the manner of ethnographic study or description'—i.e., based on direct cultural observation and systematic description.