totality

noun

to·​tal·​i·​ty tō-ˈta-lə-tē 

plural totalities

1

: an aggregate amount : sum, whole

the totality of human knowledge

2

a

: the quality or state of being total : wholeness

This … looks at the problem globally, in its totality.

—Philip Landrigan, quoted at NPR.org

b

: the phase of an eclipse during which it is total : the state of total eclipse

Synonyms

• aggregate
• full
• sum
• sum total
• summation
• total
• whole

Examples of totality in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Western Europe and parts of West Africa will catch totality at moonset. —Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 13 Mar. 2025

During totality, the entire moon is inside Earth's umbra, turning a deep red or orange color. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025

And unlike the rare total solar eclipse that carved a path of totality across only a portion of states in 2024, this month's lunar eclipse will be viewable in all of the lower 48 states. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2025

Watching the moon slowly swallowed by shadow is pretty amazing, and the reddish cast of totality is astonishing. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing totality

• in its/their totality

Rhymes for totality

• banality
• bestiality
• brutality
• carnality
• centrality
• chirality
• duality
• fatality
• finality
• formality
• frugality
• legality

Kids Definition

totality

noun

to·​tal·​i·​ty tō-ˈtal-ət-ē 

plural totalities

1

: a combined amount : sum, whole

2

: the quality or state of being total : entirety

rejected the scheme in its totality