Ausführliche

Ausführliche is a German adjective meaning thorough, detailed, or comprehensive. It is used to describe texts, explanations, analyses, or descriptions that cover a subject with substantial detail and care. The base form is ausführlich; as with other adjectives, it is declined to agree with gender, number, and case of the noun it modifies.

In attributive position before a noun, the endings vary: masculine singular nominative: ein ausführlicher Bericht; feminine singular nominative: eine ausführliche Beschreibung; neuter singular nominative: ein ausführliches Dokument; plural nominative (indefinite): ausführliche Berichte; plural nominative with definite article: die ausführlichen Berichte. In other cases endings change accordingly, e.g., eines ausführlichen Berichts, einem ausführlichen Bericht, einer ausführlichen Beschreibung. The adverbial form is ausführlich (Sie erklärt es ausführlich). The comparative is ausführlicher and the superlative am ausführlichsten or der ausführlichste.

Etymology: the adjective derives from ausführen (to carry out, to execute) with the suffix -lich, with the prefix aus- signaling thoroughness or completeness. Semantically, ausführlich emphasizes depth and completeness rather than merely length. Related synonyms include gründlich, detailliert, umfassend, while antonyms include oberflächlich (superficial) and kurz (brief).

Examples include: eine ausführliche Anleitung, ein ausführlicher Bericht, eine ausführliche Erklärung. In usage, das Wort conveys a formal or technical tone and is common in German writing and speaking when thoroughness is important.