ausführlichsten

Ausführlichsten is the superlative form of the German adjective ausführlich, meaning detailed or thorough. It expresses the highest degree of detail within a defined set, and is commonly used to characterize texts, explanations, or descriptions as the most comprehensive among comparable items.

Formation and usage: The base adjective ausführlich comes from ausführen (to carry out, to perform) with the suffix -lich. The superlative is formed with -sten: ausführlichsten. When used attributively before a noun, the ending changes according to gender, number, and case, for example der ausführlichste Bericht, die ausführlichsten Berichte, das ausführlichste Kapitel. In phrases with a definite article in the plural, the form is ausführlichsten. In predicative or adverbial use, the construction am ausführlichsten is common, as in Der Bericht war am ausführlichsten beschrieben.

Context and nuance: The term is typical in technical writing, journalism, and academic contexts to signal the most thorough level of detail among a group. It can be used neutrally to compare completeness or detail, or to emphasize the depth of treatment in reference to a set of documents or explanations. Related forms include the positive form ausführlich and the comparative ausführlicher, which express lesser degrees of detail.

Examples: Der ausführlichste Bericht fasst alle Ergebnisse zusammen. Die ausführlichsten Erläuterungen befinden sich im Anhang. In einer Zusammenfassung könnte man sagen, dies ist der ausführlichsten Beschreibungen würdig.