summation

noun sum·ma·tion \ (ˌ)sə-ˈmā-shən \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

1 : the act or process of forming a sum : addition

2 : sum, total

3 : cumulative action or effect; especially : the process by which a sequence of stimuli that are individually inadequate to produce a response are cumulatively able to induce a nerve impulse

4 : a final part of an argument reviewing points made and expressing conclusions

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summational

play \(ˌ)sə-ˈmā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

See summation defined for English-language learners

See summation defined for kids

Examples of summation in a Sentence

A summation can be found at the end of the report.
We gave a summation of our discovery.
The defense attorneys and prosecutors are set to make their final summations today.

Recent Examples of summation from the Web

Guare’s pithy summation of his findings stuck … to Kevin Bacon.

— thomas macmillan, The Cut, "The Classic Study That Showed the World Is Smaller Than You Think," 14 Mar. 2018
The summations come during the sixth week of the trial in Federal District Court in Manhattan.

— jesse mckinley and vivian wang, New York Times, "‘This Is How Criminals Talk’: Closing Arguments Focus on Ziti," 27 Feb. 2018
Ivan Davis Miami Herald File The show was a fitting summation to an enviable career in the arts.

— howard cohen, miamiherald, "Ivan Davis, longtime UM music professor, world-renowned pianist, dies at 86 | Miami Herald," 12 Mar. 2018
All this made the president’s anecdote a discomfiting listen — and also a fitting summation of his administration’s approach to the opioid epidemic.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Has Given Victims of the Opioid Crisis Nothing But Contempt," 6 Feb. 2018
The commission on Thursday released detailed summations of how each of the projects stacks up.

— dale kasler and ryan sabalow, sacbee, "Voters OK’d $2.7 billion for new reservoirs. Critics say California won’t spend it," 2 Feb. 2018
That’s a good summation of not just the spirit in which Fire and Fury was written, but the ethos that has governed Michael Wolff’s career.

— philip h. devoe, National Review, "Michael Wolff’s Troubled Relationship with the Truth," 20 Jan. 2018
The really funny thing, however, is that Bradford’s one-word summation could also be used to describe what is about to take place Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

— bob brookover, Philly.com, "Case Keenum's wild path as a backup quarterback led to unbelievable meeting with Nick Foles | Bob Brookover," 18 Jan. 2018
Miuccia Prada's summation of her new collection was surprisingly direct.

— steff yotka, Vogue, "One Year Ago Prada Had Never Shown a Nylon Bag on the Runway, Now It’s a Mainstay of Its Fall 2018 Men’s Collection," 14 Jan. 2018

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

First Known Use of summation

1760

summation Synonyms

Phrases

grand total, the whole bit, the whole kit and caboodle, the whole nine yards, the whole shebang;

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

SUMMATION Defined for English Language Learners

summation

noun

: a brief description of the most important information about something
law : a final speech made by a lawyer in a court of law to give a summary of the main arguments in a case

Medical Dictionary

summation

noun sum·ma·tion \ (ˌ)sə-ˈmā-shən \

: cumulative action or effect; especially : the process by which a sequence of stimuli that are individually inadequate to produce a response are cumulatively able to induce a nerve impulse — see spatial summation, temporal summation