compendium

noun

com·​pen·​di·​um kəm-ˈpen-dē-əm 

plural compendiums or compendia kəm-ˈpen-dē-ə 

1

: a brief summary of a larger work or of a field of knowledge : abstract

a one-volume compendium of the multivolume original

2

a

: a list of a number of items

b

: collection, compilation

a compendium of folk tales

Synonyms

• compilation
• anthology

Examples of compendium in a Sentence

a one-volume compendium of information

He published a compendium of folk tales.

Recent Examples on the Web

This beautiful book is a compendium of Jewish foods, offering little, lighthearted lessons in their origins and significance. —Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 7 June 2025

People, Places, Things Plus: sun hats on the runway, melt-in-your-mouth halvah and more from T’s cultural compendium. —New York Times, 17 May 2025

Each year teams of anonymous Michelin inspectors scour tasting menu restaurants, food stalls, neighborhood spots, wine bars and beyond for its compendium that can rate restaurants from one to three stars: accolades widely recognized as one of the highest achievements in the restaurant industry. —Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025

The National Climate Assessment is a federal compendium of climate science focused on how climate change is affecting the US, zooming into different regions to assess what has changed, what risks are coming, and how the country is adapting. —Umair Irfan, Vox, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Latin, saving, shortcut, from compendere to weigh together, from com- + pendere to weigh — more at pendant

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1