as a whole

idiom

: as a complete unit

—used to make a statement that relates to all the parts of something

Language as a whole is constantly evolving.

The lecture was intended for the group as a whole.

The company as a whole is doing well.

Examples of as a whole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Cook County as a whole from 2020-2023 lost 188,000 people, or 3.6%, leaving the current population at slightly more than 5 million residents. —

Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2024 The sector as a whole must learn to trust and equip local leaders with funding and decision-making responsibility. —

Kennedy Odede, Fortune, 15 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for as a whole

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'as a whole.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.