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 of compendium

• 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

On Wednesday the world-famous dining compendium inducted a handful of restaurants that will appear in the statewide guide, slated to be published later this year. —Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026

Plus, this year’s compendium contains some information that past editions have not featured — new information that helps explain the speed-up in the rate of global warming in recent years. —Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026

Any new boxed set in the series of Beach Boys compendiums that have been released sequentially over the years has been highly anticipated by hardcore fans. —Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026

Add to this compendium Lewis’s culinary team and local peers, and the simmering soup is nearly ready to serve. —Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin, "gain, profit, saving, short cut, abridgement, summary," from com- com- + pendere "to weigh, have a weight of, pay (out), estimate, consider" + -ium, suffix forming nouns from compound verbs — more at pendent

Note: Latin compendium would appear to have been formed from compendere, presumably "to weigh together," but the only evidence for such a verb is its citation by varro to account for the etymology of compendium.

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1