comprehensive

[ kom-pri-hen-siv ]

adjective

1. of large scope; covering or involving much; inclusive:

   a comprehensive study of world affairs.

   Synonyms: full, extensive, wide, broad

2. comprehending or thoroughly understanding with one's mind; having an extensive mental range or grasp, as of a particular subject or many subjects.
3. Insurance. covering or providing broad protection against loss.

noun

1. none comprehensives. Also called comprehensive examination. Informal, 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.
2. the detailed layout of an advertisement, showing placement of photographs, illustrations, copy, etc., as for presentation to a client. Compare visual ( def 7 ).

comprehensive

/ ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnsɪv /

adjective

1. of broad scope or content; including all or much
2. (of a car insurance policy) providing protection against most risks, including third-party liability, fire, theft, and damage
3. having the ability to understand
4. of, relating to, or being a comprehensive school

noun

1. See comprehensive school
   short for comprehensive school

Derived Forms

• ˌcompreˈhensively, adverb
• ˌcompreˈhensiveness, noun

Other Words From

• compre·hensive·ly adverb
• compre·hensive·ness noun
• noncom·pre·hensive adjective
• noncom·pre·hensive·ly adverb
• noncom·pre·hensive·ness noun
• precom·pre·hensive adjective
• precom·pre·hensive·ly adverb
• precom·pre·hensive·ness noun
• quasi-compre·hensive adjective
• quasi-compre·hensive·ly adverb
• uncom·pre·hensive adjective
• uncom·pre·hensive·ly adverb
• uncom·pre·hensive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of comprehensive¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin comprehēnsīvus; comprehension, -ive

Example Sentences

The Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks worked diligently with the public to develop a comprehensive deer management plan.

From Popular-Science

Additionally, without a comprehensive set of insights, it can be very hard for agencies to justify budget needs to their clients as well, and how to counteract the spends that other competitors are dedicating to certain segments.

From Search Engine Watch

For now, the closest thing we have to a comprehensive account of America’s botched response to the coronavirus is Lawrence Wright’s sweeping story in the New Yorker.

From Vox

Facebook has a comprehensive list of OG tags that you can use across your site but I find that these are the ones that you will want to focus on.

From Search Engine Watch

It formulated a comprehensive enterprise SEO strategy by listing over 2000 keywords and by doing complete local optimization.

From Search Engine Watch

What qualifies as vast enough, as comprehensive enough, as representative enough to faithfully render a city and its people?

From The Daily Beast

The evolution of style is oft studied but rarely understood in any comprehensive manner.

From The Daily Beast

Therefore, reforming this trade is part of a comprehensive strategy, including regional governance reforms, to help end the war.

From The Daily Beast

A comprehensive rehabilitation approach takes into account all these factors.

From The Daily Beast

And Obama would have long since signed comprehensive immigration reform into law.

From The Daily Beast

The key to all our human disorder is organized education, comprehensive and universal.

From Project Gutenberg

But consider what it will be when the system is adopted on a more comprehensive scale.

From Project Gutenberg

His mind is characterized by the literalness, rather than the comprehensive grasp of great subjects.

From Project Gutenberg

But give me a comprehensive idea of the place, in your own inimitable unvarnished diction.

From Project Gutenberg

Those who attach a high value to original and comprehensive thought will scarcely consider him entitled to such an epithet.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• all-inclusive
• broad
• complete
• encyclopedic
• exhaustive
• extensive
• far-reaching
• full
• global
• overall
• sweeping
• thorough