bütövlike

bütövlike is a neologism used in online discourse to describe an approach that treats systems as wholes rather than as mere collections of parts. The term blends a root associated with fullness or entirety with the English suffix -like, signaling similarity or affinity. Its exact origin is uncertain, with first attestations appearing in early 2020s internet discussions.

It functions as both a noun and adjective. As a philosophy, bütövlike advocates for integration and coherence across elements—design, process, and ethics—so that parts support a unified whole. In practice it appears in discussions of product design, software architecture, and policy analysis, where teams seek to align goals, interfaces, and outcomes rather than optimize components in isolation.

For example, a bütövlike website uses a single visual language, consistent interaction models, and accessible practices across features. For another instance, a bütövlike policy assesses how environmental, economic, and social impacts interrelate, rather than evaluating them separately.

Some critics argue the term can be vague or overextended, and that it risks reifying a vague romanticism of wholeness. Proponents see value in providing a shorthand for systems thinking and ethical integration.