Substantially all refers to a significant portion of the whole, indicating that a large, but not necessarily the entirety, part of a set or quantity has been met or achieved.
Imagine you have a big pile of toys. 'Substantially all' means that almost every single toy in the pile is accounted for, even if there are a few missing pieces.
It is crucial in legal documents to establish that a required condition has been met by a significant degree, providing a threshold for compliance or contractual performance. It helps define the scope of an obligation.
Visual model
A contract clause stating that 'substantially all' of the required deliverables must be completed before acceptance.
A regulatory requirement where the threshold for compliance is defined as 'substantially all' of the necessary safety protocols.
Document context
A phrase used to indicate that a very large portion of something has been included or achieved, often implying a near-complete fulfillment of a requirement or obligation.
It is crucial in legal documents to establish that a required condition has been met by a significant degree, providing a threshold for compliance or contractual performance. It helps define the scope of an obligation.
When a contract requires a substantial amount of performance, or when a statute dictates a broad range of actions, indicating that the requirement is nearly fully satisfied.
In contracts, statutes, and regulatory language where the exact totality of the required action needs to be demonstrated, but not necessarily the entire 100% perfection.
The parties involved in a legal agreement or regulatory framework, as they need to prove that the agreed-upon scope has been met.
It works by setting a threshold; if more than a 'substantial' amount of something is present, then the condition is considered satisfied. It requires a degree of completeness rather than absolute perfection.
Related terms
Share
Copy the link, open native sharing, or scan the QR code from another device.
Scan to open this glossary page on another device.
Wikipedia
Open Wikipedia for broader background on substantially all.
Open on WikipediaKnowledge graph
This layer links the term to nearby glossary entries, document use cases, and contract-risk guides so readers can move from definition to context without dead ends.
Move from term to document
Disclaimer: We do not provide legal advice. We translate legal language into plain English and help you prepare for a conversation with a lawyer.