More or less means roughly, though not exactly. Near enough for the purpose.
It softens a claim, so saying that something is more or less finished means almost but not quite, and everybody understands the gap that is being admitted. It can sit before or after what it qualifies. It is close to approximately and rather less formal, and about does the same job in one word. There is a small trap for learners, since the phrase never means literally more or literally less.
1phrasemore or lessApproximately; almost but not exactly.
“The job is more or less done.”
Practised in A Man Called Ove, Small Talk & Everyday Phrases
First appears in chapter 8 of A Man Called Ove.
Practise this word