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.
Marshaling an encyclopedic body of evolutionary and anthropological evidence, Mr. Lieberman, a paleoanthropologist at Harvard University, aims to dispel the monolithic thinking that dominates our approach to diet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
His knowledge of the best strategies for various markets is encyclopedic, and it is backed by rigorous benchmark analysis.
From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026
“He has an encyclopedic knowledge that’s similar to mine. I passed that test and we really got comfortable with each other.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
Hundreds of watches, an encyclopedic knowledge of the movie and its production, a worn-out DVD copy hanging on by a thread, and a whole career later, I still owe it everything.
From Salon ● May 1, 2026
Lelia was the last person who would attempt anything even vaguely encyclopedic.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
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.
