sum and substance

noun

The essential meaning of written or spoken words; gist, crux.

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Meanings

nounsum and substance (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe essential meaning of written or spoken words; gist, crux.
Cite this entry
APA

sum and substance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sum%20and%20substance

MLA

“sum and substance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sum%20and%20substance. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sum and substance,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sum%20and%20substance.

Source: sum and substance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.