comprehensive
Americanadjective
-
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:
And he promised to advance a "comprehensive anti-corruption agenda" in the Senate.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
Bangladesh’s consul general in New York sent Palo Alto police a letter “expressing profound concern regarding the circumstances surrounding his death” and calling for “a comprehensive law enforcement investigation.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 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
“Everything doesn’t really fit together looking at the official numbers,” said Rosen, who published a comprehensive study on the reliability of Chinese economic statistics in 2015, which found that Beijing had undercounted its growth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
No covert military tribunal, Secret Service snoopers, or police group could have devised half as comprehensive or effective a Distant Early Warning System.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
Look, CSU and all regional comprehensives in this country have a budget problem.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2023
We were lucky enough to have a school field and a handful of concrete tennis and netball courts – riches beyond the dreams of most city comprehensives.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 8, 2020
From BASIS’s first year in 1996-1997, students who failed the comprehensives had to retake them.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 28, 2019
Pupils at grammars do get better results than they would at comprehensives.
From Economist ● Aug. 11, 2016
Toby had gone to Creighton, one of the most experimental comprehensives in the country.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2014
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
