panoply
Americannoun
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a wide-ranging and impressive array or display.
the dazzling panoply of the maharaja's procession; the panoply of European history.
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a complete suit of armor.
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a protective covering.
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full ceremonial attire or paraphernalia; special dress and equipment.
noun
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a complete or magnificent array
-
the entire equipment of a warrior
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of panoply
1570–80; < Greek panoplía full complement of arms and armor, equivalent to pan- pan- + ( h ) ópl ( a ) arms, armor ( cf. hoplite) + -ia -ia
Explanation
A panoply is a collection or an assortment of things. You might be eager to show off your panoply of bobble-head dolls when friends come to your house. An array or display of things is a panoply, so you can show off your panoply of spooky clown paintings, but you can also display a panoply of dance moves or talk about the panoply of flags at the parade — as long as it's a complete or impressive display, it's a true panoply. In ancient Greece, the word was used exclusively to talk about military costumes which were always suits of armor.
Vocabulary lists containing panoply
The Scarlet Letter
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For National Pancake Day, Words With the Greek Roots "Pan-"
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Much Ado: Synonyms for "Many"
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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:
The Observer headlines on "Burnham's odyssey" – the journey to No 10 – with a sketch of the new Labour leader in Greek panoply.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
One year later, Newsom’s initiative has struggled to distinguish itself amid a panoply of wildfire relief efforts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2026
That meeting — set for Oct. 28-29 — comes at a time when the Federal Reserve has to decide on monetary policy without the full panoply of government data it would ordinarily rely on.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2025
“European companies are adopting a full panoply of measures,” Oneglia says.
From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2025
Sir Grummore Grummursum was cantering up the clearing in full panoply of war.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
For better or for worse, Turkey became a republic, a midget of a state compared to its former self; all the old panoplies of government were thrown overboard.
From Time Magazine Archive
Under Philip's feet at last Writhed all the Protestant Netherlands, dim coasts Right over against us, whence his panoplies Might suddenly whelm our isle.
From Collected Poems Volume One by Noyes, Alfred
Long rows of windows ranged away, separated by panoplies, in relievo, and by busts on small pedestals.
From The Man Who Laughs by Hugo, Victor
The border of the basin was made of ancient marble bas-reliefs, representing136 panoplies, griffins, etc.
From Pagan and Christian Rome by Lanciani, Rodolfo Amedeo
Eight panoplies of arms, which had been improvised the same morning by the armorers of the corps, embellished the walls and railings.
From The Man With The Broken Ear by Holt, Henry
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.
