not necessarily

not necessarily

Not definitely or always; possibly not. Because of the different income tax brackets here, a higher wage isn't necessarily a good thing, as you may end up paying more than you were before. A: "Based on this evidence, he's definitely guilty." B: "Not necessarily. There are lot of factors that still need to be considered."
See also: not
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

ˌnot necesˈsarily

used to say that something is possibly true but not definitely or always true: The more expensive articles are not necessarily better. Biggest doesn’t necessarily mean best. (spoken) ‘We’re going to lose.’ ‘Not necessarily.’
See also: not
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • definitely
  • definitely not
  • Definitely not!
  • aren
  • not for a second
  • not for a minute
  • not for a moment
  • aint
  • ain't
  • be not much cop
References in classic literature
The reader, however young, who meets him gets very soon a sense that if he were in trouble, not necessarily medical, he would go to Dolittle and ask his advice about it.
In other forms of government he may enjoy them; but not necessarily: for in some states the people have no power; nor have they any general assembly, but a few select men.
"First of all, my friend," answered Barbicane, "every aerolite does not fall to the earth; it is only a small proportion which do so; and if we had passed into an aerolite, it does not necessarily follow that we should ever reach the surface of the moon."
Now the head, the hand, and such things are substances, and it is possible to know their essential character definitely, but it does not necessarily follow that we should know that to which they are related.
But each fauna is not necessarily exactly intermediate, as unequal intervals of time have elapsed between consecutive formations.
Fortunately the scratches were on the fleshy parts of the arms and shoulders, where, though painful, they were not necessarily serious.
It was a wild animal fight; the strong trampled the weak, and the strong, he had already discovered,--men like Dowsett, and Letton, and Guggenhammer,--were not necessarily the best.
"Those who direct the play do not necessarily take part in it," continued the slave girl, "but sit in those two great thrones which you see at either end of the board and direct their pieces from square to square."
Here we have a definite influence of past experience, but not necessarily any actual knowledge of the past.
The Tale consists simply in the narration of a story either founded on facts, or created solely by the imagination, and not necessarily associated with the teaching of any moral lesson.
At all events, here is a practicable expedient for avoiding such an inconvenience; and nothing more can be required than to show that evils predicted to not necessarily result from the plan.
'The Lair of the White Worm.' I would like to ask if there is anything not necessarily of evil import about any of the places?"
It is easy enough for bull-headed clowns to sneer at nerves, but the highest natures are not necessarily those containing the greatest amount of moral brass.
"Good whale-boat sailors do not necessarily make good schooner- handlers," she replied to one of his arguments.
Considering the character of the weapons, the limited number of shots allowed, the generous distance, the impenetrable solidity of the fog, and the added fact that one of the combatants is one-eyed and the other cross-eyed and near-sighted, it seems to me that this conflict need not necessarily be fatal.