On the whole means generally speaking, ignoring the exceptions. On the whole it was a good year.
It hedges honestly, since it claims a general truth and admits there are cases against. It sits at the front of a sentence or after the verb.
1phraseon the wholeGenerally speaking, ignoring the exceptions.
“On the whole the new system is quicker.”
on the whole is a phrase.
Practised in Small Talk & Everyday Phrases