encyclopedic

Also en·cy·clo·pe·di·cal,
Or en·cy·clo·pae·dic

[en-sahy-kluh-pee-dik]

adjective

1. pertaining to or of the nature of an encyclopedia; relating to all branches of knowledge.

2. comprehending a wide variety of information; comprehensive.

   an encyclopedic memory.

   Synonyms: wide-ranging, exhaustive, all-inclusive, all-embracing

encyclopedic

/ ɛnˌsaɪkləʊˈpiːdɪk /

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or relating to an encyclopedia

2. covering a wide range of knowledge; comprehensive

Other Word Forms

• encyclopedically adverb
• encyclopaedically adverb
• nonencyclopaedic adjective
• nonencyclopedic adjective
• nonencyclopedical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of encyclopedic¹

First recorded in 1815–25; encycloped(ia) + -ic

Example Sentences

“Expensive Basketball” is an encyclopedic romp through hoops history, footnotes strewn throughout like so many perimeter ball screens, threads blissfully unconnected.

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Consider these examples, which are by no means encyclopedic.

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One is obsessed with Major League Baseball, and one is obsessed with the history of Disney theme parks, and they have encyclopedic knowledge every bit as awe-inspiring and freakish as I had as a kid.

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Booster is lively with the women but also has an encyclopedic knowledge of their relationship blunders.

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Conan Doyle: creator of Sherlock Holmes and by extension all subsequent super sleuths with an eccentric character, eagle eye for detail, encyclopedic knowledge of unexpectedly useful trivia and the brain of a UNIVAC.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• exhaustive 
• extensive 
• thorough 
• vast 
• wide-ranging