encyclopedic
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to or of the nature of an encyclopedia; relating to all branches of knowledge.
-
comprehending a wide variety of information; comprehensive.
an encyclopedic memory.
- Synonyms:
- wide-ranging, exhaustive, all-inclusive, all-embracing
adjective
-
of, characteristic of, or relating to an encyclopedia
-
covering a wide range of knowledge; comprehensive
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of encyclopedic
First recorded in 1815–25; encycloped(ia) + -ic
Explanation
Something that's encyclopedic includes everything — it's vast and complete. Your encyclopedic knowledge of insects means you can identify every single bug you come across. You're most likely to find the adjective encyclopedic describing the word knowledge. If your knowledge about any subject is encyclopedic, it means you know as much about it as an encyclopedia — a book crammed full of information — could tell you. In fact, encyclopedic comes from encyclopedia, a modern Latin word that's based on a misreading of the Greek enkyklios paideia as "general education." The phrase actually means "training in a circle."
Vocabulary lists containing encyclopedic
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cycl
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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.
Encyclopedic in his knowledge, he provided a running narrative throughout our four-hour ride.
From Washington Post • Sep. 30, 2021
Encyclopedic books can be great for a half-hour of browsing, even if your kids can’t read.
From Slate • Mar. 11, 2020
Encyclopedic art museums are a rare accomplishment, but that remarkable achievement for Los Angeles County will grind to a halt.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2019
Encyclopedic national galleries, which try to draw fine examples of art from as many periods as possible, have almost no American artists on display.
From Salon • Feb. 19, 2017
First let us quote what is said of hypnotism in Foster's Encyclopedic Medical Dictionary.
From Complete Hypnotism, Mesmerism, Mind-Reading and Spiritualism How to Hypnotize: Being an Exhaustive and Practical System of Method, Application, and Use by Alpheus, A.
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.
