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the whole amount or sum of something
The total number of attendees was 200.
The complete number of attendees was 200.
Often used in financial, mathematical, or quantitative contexts.
complete or absolute
She made a total recovery after the surgery.
She made a complete recovery after the surgery.
Used to emphasize completeness or extremity.
Use 'total' as an adjective to describe something as complete (e.g., 'total darkness'), and as a noun to refer to a sum (e.g., 'the total is $50').
Avoid phrases like 'total sum' or 'total amount' as they are redundant; 'total' already implies a sum.
From Old French 'total', from Latin 'totalis', meaning 'whole, entire'.
Can be used as a noun (e.g., 'the total') or an adjective (e.g., 'total destruction').