nonexhaustive
Not fully comprehensive
Nonexhaustive describes a list, set, or treatment that doesn't cover every possibility—it's selective rather than complete.
Legal and technical writing often flags examples this way: The following is a nonexhaustive list of prohibited activities.
The signal tells readers there may be more cases than those named.
Also spelled non-exhaustive.
Lacking necessary parts
- fragmentaryConsisting of incomplete parts
- selectiveChoosing with care
- limitedRestricted in extent
- partialFavoring one side
abbreviated · condensed · truncated · abridged · summary · sampling · subset · portion
One who acts for another
- indicativeServing as a sign
- exemplaryServing as ideal model
- illustrativeServing to explain
- typicalRepresentative of a kind
characteristic · suggestive · demonstrative · sample · including · notably · particularly · especially
Before the main part
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- initialName's opening letter
- workingIn active function
- draftPreliminary version of text
exploratory · introductory · rough · approximate · general · broad · open-ended · expandable
incomplete
Lacking necessary parts
- fragmentaryConsisting of incomplete parts
- selectiveChoosing with care
- limitedRestricted in extent
partial · abbreviated · condensed · truncated · abridged · summary · sampling · subset · portion · segment
representative
One who acts for another
- indicativeServing as a sign
- exemplaryServing as ideal model
- illustrativeServing to explain
typical · characteristic · suggestive · demonstrative · sample · including · notably · particularly · especially · selected
preliminary
Before the main part
draft · exploratory · introductory · rough · approximate · general · broad · open-ended · expandable · flexible
nonexhaustiveexhaustive
Covering all possibilities
comprehensive · complete · all-inclusive · thorough · total
exhaust, exhaustion, exhaustive, inexhaustible, exhaustively, unexhausted, exhaustiveness, inexhaustibly, inexhaustibility