Övergripande

Övergripande is a Swedish adjective meaning overarching, comprehensive, or broad in scope. It is used to describe plans, analyses, or perspectives that integrate multiple components or areas, rather than focusing on a single detail. In use, it signals a high-level or holistic approach.

The term combines över- meaning over or across with gripande, derived from gripa (to grasp), conveying the sense of grasping the whole or the big picture. This etymology reflects its function: to describe something that encompasses or ties together various elements.

In practice, övergripande appears frequently in policy, governance, and organizational contexts. Common phrases include övergripande mål (overarching goals), övergripande strategi (umbrella strategy), and övergripande plan (master plan). It is also used in project management and research to denote a big‑picture view, such as en övergripande bedömning or en övergripande översikt.

The tone of the word is formal and typical for official or academic writing. It is often contrasted with more specific or detailed terms, or with partial aspects. Related synonyms include omfattande (comprehensive) and översiktlig (high-level or overview). The nuances differ: övergripande emphasizes cross‑cutting scope and integration across domains, while översiktlig focuses on a general overview, and omfattande on breadth or completeness.

Usage guidelines suggest applying övergripande when describing plans or analyses intended to reflect multiple areas or stakeholders, and reserving more specific terms for detailing individual components.