gestalt
Say it: guh-SHTALT /ɡəˈʃtælt/ · noun
What “gestalt” means
A whole you recognise as more than its separate parts.
More precisely: A whole that is perceived as more than the sum of its parts.
Example: “The team's gestalt is what makes it work, not any single star.”
When to use it
When discussing how separate elements form one overall impression, usually in design, psychology or thoughtful conversation.
Memory trick
German Gestalt means form or shape: notice the whole pattern before its pieces.
Similar words
whole, pattern, configuration
Where it comes from
German Gestalt, 'form, shape'.
Quick check
Separate patches on a poster suddenly form a face when you step back. That overall form is its…
gestalt or symmetry?
Show the answer
gestalt
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