comprehensive
Americanadjective
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of large scope; covering or involving much; inclusive.
a comprehensive study of world affairs.
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comprehending or thoroughly understanding with one's mind; having an extensive mental range or grasp, as of a particular subject or many subjects.
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Insurance. covering or providing broad protection against loss.
noun
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comprehensives
plural
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Also called comprehensive examination. Informal, none comprehensives. none comps an examination of extensive coverage given to measure a student's general progress, proficiency in their major field of study, or the like.
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the detailed layout of an advertisement, showing placement of photographs, illustrations, copy, etc., as for presentation to a client.
adjective
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of broad scope or content; including all or much
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(of a car insurance policy) providing protection against most risks, including third-party liability, fire, theft, and damage
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having the ability to understand
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of, relating to, or being a comprehensive school
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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comprehensivenessnoun
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noncomprehensivenessnoun
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precomprehensivenessnoun
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uncomprehensivenessnoun
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noncomprehensiveadjective
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precomprehensiveadjective
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quasi-comprehensiveadjective
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uncomprehensiveadjective
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comprehensivelyadverb
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noncomprehensivelyadverb
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precomprehensivelyadverb
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quasi-comprehensivelyadverb
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uncomprehensivelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of comprehensive
First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin comprehēnsīvus; see comprehension, -ive
Explanation
When you want to describe something that includes all or most details, you can use the adjective comprehensive. If you get the comprehensive treatment at a spa, it might include a massage, a manicure and a facial. Comprehensive is from Latin comprehensivus, from comprehensus, the source of English comprehend. In business, comprehensive insurance is insurance that covers a broad range, offering protection against most risks of a certain type. It applies mainly to car insurance.
Vocabulary lists containing comprehensive
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Grade 9, List 1
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Jane Eyre
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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.
See Examples For:
This has brought new urgency to the pursuit of a more comprehensive energy ceasefire ahead of three-way peace negotiations that are planned between the U.S.,
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
And he promised to advance a "comprehensive anti-corruption agenda" in the Senate.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
By analyzing tens of thousands of satellite images, the Journal identified hundreds of damaged buildings across more than two dozen installations—offering the most comprehensive public accounting of the war’s damage to American facilities to date.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026
The new analysis is the first comprehensive effort by scientists to understand the prevalence of CTE among deceased former NFL players, according to the study.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
As yet there has been no comprehensive study aimed at testing the mutagenic effects of pesticides as such.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
When it comes to schools he's seen it all - from teaching maths in boarding schools, to running inner city comprehensives in England.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2024
Look, CSU and all regional comprehensives in this country have a budget problem.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2023
From BASIS’s first year in 1996-1997, students who failed the comprehensives had to retake them.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 28, 2019
The critics had the better of the argument in the 1960s and 70s, when most grammar schools were converted to non-selective comprehensives.
From Economist ● Aug. 13, 2015
Katharine Birbalsingh has taught in London comprehensives for over 10 years and this diary of a typical year in one of those schools will confirm every parent's worst fears.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 27, 2011
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
