summa

American  

[soom-uh, suhm-uh] / ˈsʊm ə, ˈsʌm ə /

noun

plural

summae, summas

1. a comprehensive work or series of works covering, synthesizing, or summarizing a particular field or subject.

2. a work or series of works that is a summary of all human knowledge.

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summa British  

/ ˈsʊmɑː /

noun

1. medieval Christianity theol a compendium of theology, philosophy, or canon law, or sometimes of all three together. The Summa Theologica of St Thomas Aquinas, written between 1265 and 1274, was the most famous of all such compendia

2. rare a comprehensive work or survey

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Etymology

Origin of summa

1400–50; late Middle English < Medieval Latin; Latin: sum

Compare meaning

How does summa compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Magna vs. summa

Example Sentences

After graduation, though, she struggled to find her footing, eventually graduating summa cum laude from the City University of New York with a theater degree.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

She graduated summa cum laude from Duke University, where she studied public policy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026

I spoke with Charlotte Woodward, who graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and now works as Education Program Associate for National Down Syndrome Society.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2025

She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami, in Ohio, and later received a master’s from the prominent creative writing program at the University of Iowa.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 8, 2023

At Penn State he revealed himself to be a brilliant student, graduating summa cum laude.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson