fullstendigheten

Fullstendigheten is a Norwegian noun describing the state or quality of being complete, thorough, and without gaps. It is used when something is considered to cover all relevant aspects, components, or data, leaving no important omissions.

Etymology and usage notes: the term is formed from the adjective fullstendig (complete) with the abstract noun suffix -heten. It is standard in both Bokmål and Nynorsk. In practice, fullstendigheten emphasizes coverage and comprehensiveness rather than an absolute standard of perfection.

Contexts and nuance: in philosophy and theory, fullstendigheten can refer to the totality or wholeness of a concept or argument. In science and data work, it often denotes that a description, model, or dataset accounts for all necessary elements. In formal contexts, such as logic or mathematics, the idea of completeness is related but may be expressed with more precise technical terms; fullstendigheten here conveys a general sense of thoroughness. It is possible for something to be complete without being flawless, underscoring the distinction between thoroughness and perfection.

Examples: a report can be praised for its fullstendighet if it documents all relevant findings and sources. A philosophical account might strive for fullstendigheten of its analysis by addressing the major dimensions of the issue.

See also: helhet, kompletthet, totalitet, fullkommenhet.