comprehension

[kom-pri-hen-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or process of comprehending.

2. the state of being comprehended.

3. perception or understanding.

   His comprehension of physics is amazing for a young student.

4. capacity of the mind to perceive and understand; power to grasp ideas; ability to know.

5. Logic.,  the connotation of a term.

6. inclusion.

7. comprehensiveness.

comprehension

/ ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnʃən /

noun

1. the act or capacity of understanding

2. the state of including or comprising something; comprehensiveness

3. education an exercise consisting of a previously unseen passage of text with related questions, designed to test a student's understanding esp of a foreign language

4. obsolete,  logic the attributes implied by a given concept or term; connotation

Other Word Forms

• miscomprehension noun
• noncomprehension noun
• precomprehension noun
• supercomprehension noun
• uncomprehension noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of comprehension¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin comprehēnsiōn-, stem of comprehēnsiō, from comprehēns(us) “understood” (past participle of comprehendere “to understand,” literally, “to seize together”; comprehend ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

But pupils will also do a comprehension test by answering questions on a passage in English or Irish.

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He suggested that the BBC's decision to invite Mr MacKenzie to contribute to a discussion on ethics and journalistic integrity was "beyond comprehension".

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“The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension.”

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Dark and disturbing, “Good Boy” explores what happens when our pets are confronted with forces beyond their comprehension, and how we as humans often fail to heed our pet’s instincts.

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"How this illegal alien was hired without work authorisation, a final order of removal, and a prior weapons charge is beyond comprehension and should alarm the parents of that school district," he added.

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Related Words

• apprehension 
• awareness