thoroughness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Neutral
Quick answer
What does “thoroughness” mean?
The quality of being complete, careful, and leaving no detail unchecked.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality of being complete, careful, and leaving no detail unchecked.
The characteristic of being meticulous, comprehensive, and painstaking in one's work, analysis, or investigation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Slightly more frequent in British English formal and official contexts (e.g., 'with his customary thoroughness').
Frequency
Low-frequency word in both dialects, but slightly higher in UK corpus data, likely due to institutional style preferences.
Grammar
How to Use “thoroughness” in a Sentence
The thoroughness of [NP] (e.g., the investigation) was impressive.He handled the task with [adjective] thoroughness.They praised her for her thoroughness.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thoroughness” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Please ensure you thoroughly check the figures.
- The team was thoroughly briefed before the operation.
American English
- Make sure to review the contract thoroughly.
- The area was thoroughly searched by the police.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports and appraisals: 'The audit was commended for its thoroughness.'
Academic
Common in research critiques: 'The study's methodological thoroughness sets a new standard.'
Everyday
Less common; used for significant tasks: 'I was amazed by the thoroughness of her cleaning.'
Technical
Used in engineering, law, medicine: 'The safety inspection lacked the required thoroughness.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thoroughness”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thoroughness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thoroughness”
- Spelling: 'thoroghness', 'thorowness'.
- Pronunciation: Misplacing stress (e.g., thorough-NESS).
- Overuse in informal contexts where 'care' or 'being careful' would suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, more formal word typically used in academic, professional, and official contexts. Simpler words like 'care' are more common in everyday speech.
Thoroughness refers to completeness and attention to all details in a process. Accuracy refers to correctness and freedom from error. A task can be thorough (covering everything) but not accurate (containing mistakes), and vice-versa.
Yes, though usually positive, it can imply excessive slowness, pedantry, or inefficiency if taken to an extreme, e.g., 'The project was delayed due to his excessive thoroughness.'
The adjective is 'thorough' (UK: /ˈθʌr.ə/, US: /ˈθɝː.oʊ/ or /ˈθɝː.ə/). It is crucial to learn this form as it is far more common than the noun 'thoroughness'.
The quality of being complete, careful, and leaving no detail unchecked.
Thoroughness is usually formal, neutral in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[To do something] with a fine-tooth comb (conceptual idiom for thoroughness)”
- “Leave no stone unturned (related idiom for thorough investigation)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a THOROUGH investigation going THROUGH every detail to achieve THOROUGHNESS.
Conceptual Metaphor
THOROUGHNESS IS DEPTH/COMPLETENESS (e.g., deep dive, cover all bases, leave no stone unturned).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be described with the word 'thoroughness'?