panoply
Americannoun
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a wide-ranging and impressive array or display.
the dazzling panoply of the maharaja's procession; the panoply of European history.
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a complete suit of armor.
-
a protective covering.
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full ceremonial attire or paraphernalia; special dress and equipment.
noun
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a complete or magnificent array
-
the entire equipment of a warrior
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of panoply
1570–80; < Greek panoplía full complement of arms and armor, equivalent to pan- pan- + ( h ) ópl ( a ) arms, armor ( cf. hoplite) + -ia -ia
Explanation
A panoply is a collection or an assortment of things. You might be eager to show off your panoply of bobble-head dolls when friends come to your house. An array or display of things is a panoply, so you can show off your panoply of spooky clown paintings, but you can also display a panoply of dance moves or talk about the panoply of flags at the parade — as long as it's a complete or impressive display, it's a true panoply. In ancient Greece, the word was used exclusively to talk about military costumes which were always suits of armor.
Vocabulary lists containing panoply
The Scarlet Letter
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For National Pancake Day, Words With the Greek Roots "Pan-"
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Much Ado: Synonyms for "Many"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For a long time, I thought the question was when Slate and Panoply, the podcasting spinoff Andy Bowers and I launched in 2015, would no longer require my assistance.
From Slate • Oct. 2, 2018
Dan Bloom, a producer for the podcast company Panoply, was among the first to name a person of interest, by honing in on what seemed like an unusual word choice.
From Salon • Sep. 20, 2018
Later this year, Panoply is teasing a new show meant to push the boundaries of another typical podcast form: the mystery.
From New York Times • Sep. 13, 2018
And the podcasting company Panoply has signed with WME to develop its own adaptations.
From New York Times • Mar. 28, 2018
There were no guns belching forth: the grim Panoply of War, whatever it may mean, was conspicuous by its absence.
From Mufti by McNeile, H. C. (Herman Cyril)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
