completionism

com·ple·tion·ism
C3O1M3P3L1E1T1I1O1N1I1S1M3
UK/kəmˈpliː.ʃən.ɪ.zəm/US/kəmˈpli.ʃən.ɪ.zəm/

noun

The goal of achieving every objective in a game, as opposed to merely doing enough to win.

OriginEnglish completion ← Latin completio ← Proto-Italic *plēō →
Scrabble 21
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Meanings

nouncompletionism (uncountable)
  1. uncountablevideo gamesThe goal of achieving every objective in a game, as opposed to merely doing enough to win.
  2. uncountableThe goal of collecting, visiting, experiencing, etc. every item of a set.

    Lee's crossover idea was a sales bonanza, propelling Marvel readership inot unheard-of spheres of completionism

    2013, Alex S. Romagnoli, Gian S. Pagnucci, Enter the Superheroes: American Values, Culture, and the Canon of Superhero Literature, →ISBN, page 41
    2 more examples

    I say "almost" because, for as exhaustive an attempt at completionism as this has been, I know I don't have them all.

    2019, Michael J. Nazarewycz, “Preface”, in Historic Movie Theaters of Delaware, page 8

    There is an infections completionism to the way millennials travel; we visit one country for a short while and consider it done, ticket off.

    2020, Alice Vincent, “March”, in Rootbound: Rewilding a Life, →ISBN

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
  3. Proto-Italic*kom
  4. Proto-Italic*kom-
  5. Latincon-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*pleh₁-
  7. Proto-Italic*plēō
  8. Latinpleō
  9. Latincompleō
  10. Latincompletio
  11. Englishcompletion
  12. Englishcompletionism

From completion + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

completionism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/completionism

MLA

“completionism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/completionism. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “completionism,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/completionism.

Source: completionism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.