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compendious

American  
[kuhm-pen-dee-uhs] / kəmˈpɛn di əs /

adjective

  1. of or like a compendium; containing the substance of a subject, often an exclusive subject, in a brief form; concise.

    a compendious history of the world.

    Synonyms:
    packed, succinct, comprehensive, summary

compendious British  
/ kəmˈpɛndɪəs /

adjective

  1. containing or stating the essentials of a subject in a concise form; succinct

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of compendious

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Latin word compendiōsus. See compendium, -ous

Explanation

The adjective compendious describes texts or speeches that are brief yet packed with useful information, without any filler. If you've ever enjoyed a book summary that saved you hours of reading, you've experienced the beauty of compendious work. When something is short and to the point, giving all the truly essential information, it's compendious. Perfect for fast learners or busy schedules, compendious content is that which cuts to the chase, offering all the critical details without wandering off topic. Whether it's a concise report, a streamlined presentation, or a condensed but comprehensive explanation, something that is compendious contains the facts with none of the fluff.

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