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 of totality

• total
• sum
• whole

Examples of totality in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The video compresses nearly an hour of totality into a short sequence, showing the precise alignment of the sun, moon and spacecraft, as the Artemis 2 crew flew around the far side of the moon on April 6. —Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026

The moment of totality was brilliant. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2026

On Earth, lucky eclipse watchers experience a few minutes of totality, when the sun’s disk will be fully blocked by the moon. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 6 Apr. 2026

But the totality of the cap hits between this year and next year would’ve been the same. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026

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