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.
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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
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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.
The drills have deployed a panoply of military hardware -- including tank formations and Russian-made Pantsir air-defence systems -- with over 25,000 troops, said General Omar Mrajah Al Jedid, the officer overseeing the exercises.
From Barron's • May 17, 2026
The same goes for the vast panoply of striking images and lighting.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
That meeting — set for Oct. 28-29 — comes at a time when the Federal Reserve has to decide on monetary policy without the full panoply of government data it would ordinarily rely on.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 27, 2025
There are a huge number of professionals from different disciplines: nutritionists, social workers, mental health specialists, along with the full panoply of medical staff.
From BBC • Oct. 11, 2025
Theresa came home to find Helen lost in a panoply of analytical tools, all laid out on the kitchen table.
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
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.
