encyclopedic

adjective

en·​cy·​clo·​pe·​dic in-ˌsī-klə-ˈpē-dik 

: of, relating to, or suggestive of an encyclopedia or its methods of treating or covering a subject : comprehensive

an encyclopedic mind

an encyclopedic collection of armor

encyclopedically

in-ˌsī-klə-ˈpē-di-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

In Greek, paidaea meant not simply "child-rearing" but also "education", and kyklios meant "general;" thus, an encyclopedia is a work broad enough to provide a kind of general education. The world's most eminent general encyclopedia, the Encyclopaedia Britannica, is a huge work that covers every field of human knowledge. But encyclopedic doesn't have to refer to books; it's often used to describe the wide-ranging knowledge that certain types of minds just can't stop acquiring.

Synonyms

• all-embracing
• all-in [chiefly British]
• all-inclusive
• broad-gauge
• broad-gauged
• compendious
• complete
• comprehensive
• cover-all
• cyclopedic
• embracive
• exhaustive
• full
• global
• inclusive
• in-depth
• omnibus
• panoramic
• thorough
• universal

Examples of encyclopedic in a Sentence

She published an encyclopedic study of ancient Egypt.

The event was described in encyclopedic detail.

his almost encyclopedic knowledge of movies

Recent Examples on the Web

The encyclopedic collection of photos from museum exhibitions, runway shows, concept drawings and campaigns is proof of Miyake’s devotion to texture and capacity for constant experimentation. —Gisela Williams Aileen Kwun Zoe Ruffner Gage Daughdrill Camille Sojit Pejcha Gage Daughdrill, New York Times, 23 May 2024

There’s this encyclopedic aspect, these layers of generations. —Jason Farago, New York Times, 2 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

encyclopedic

adjective

en·​cy·​clo·​pe·​dic

variants also encyclopaedic

in-ˌsī-klə-ˈpēd-ik

1

: of or relating to an encyclopedia

2

: covering a wide range of subjects

encyclopedic knowledge