sum total

noun

Definition of sum total

1 : a total arrived at through the counting of sums

2 : total result : totality

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Examples of sum total in a Sentence

in this case the sum total of physical evidence that a crime has been committed wouldn't fill a thimble

Recent Examples on the Web Your culture is the sum total of those emotions and experiences. — Lisa Burke, Star Tribune, "Employee treatment during COVID-19 will have effect on brand reputation," 26 Feb. 2021 The sum total of these ingredients makes for a high-sodium meal, though steps such as using less dressing, finding a low-sodium or homemade bread and reducing the salt in the spice rub can help bring the numbers down, if desired. — Washington Post, "A towering mushroom Reuben that channels the flavors of the deli classic," 24 Feb. 2021 These two boys represent the sum total of people with AIDS to whom Davies grants major plotlines. — Brian Mullin, Los Angeles Times, "Commentary: ‘It’s a Sin’ is a transatlantic hit. But it replicates troubling AIDS crisis tropes," 23 Feb. 2021 The sum total of our local and state elections can be just as crucial as the national contests—if not more so. — Harpers Magazine, "Letters," 5 Jan. 2021 The sum total of the top 10 charitable donations last year — $2.6 billion — was the lowest since 2011, even as many billionaires vastly increased their wealth in the stock market rally that catapulted technology shares in particular last year. — CBS News, "Jeff Bezos tops list of biggest charitable givers in 2020," 5 Jan. 2021 Best-selling author Michael Pollan, who writes about the socio-cultural impacts of food, said Cantisano carried in him the sum total of organic practices. — Diana Marcum, Los Angeles Times, "Amigo Bob Cantisano, a towering figure in the West Coast’s organic farming movement, dies at 69," 29 Dec. 2020 Mauritius and Nigeria also chalked up M&A improvements, although the sum total of deals from the three countries was only slightly higher than those from South Africa. — Matthew Martin, Bloomberg.com, "JPMorgan Ousted as Mideast-Africa’s Top Dealmaker by U.S. Rivals," 21 Dec. 2020 Jill Biden’s dissertation is not an addition to the sum total of human knowledge. — Kyle Smith, National Review, "Jill Biden’s Doctorate Is Garbage Because Her Dissertation Is Garbage," 16 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sum total.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

1 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Sum total.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sum%20total. Accessed 2 Mar. 2021.

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