sum total

noun

1. complete numerical total.

   the sum total of my savings.

2. essence; substance.

   The sum total of research in the field.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sum total¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Idioms and Phrases

The entirety, everything, as in I spent all day in the kitchen and the sum total of my efforts is this cake. [Mid-1600s]

Example Sentences

"The sort of AI that people are using routinely today is built on the sum total of information on the internet - it doesn't just produce answers out of thin air," Dr Edwards told the BBC.

Read more on BBC

His unconditional affection is a great reminder that my professional output isn’t the sum total of my value as a human being.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“The sum total,” Buttu said, ”is we have no Hamas, no Palestinian Authority, and just Israel.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Starting in the 1950s and up to 2019, there was a sum total of roughly 2,000 operating satellites in orbit.

Read more on Salon

Europe is a sum total of different countries with different-sized budgets and diverse domestic politics and priorities.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• summation 
• totality