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

As the Center for Economic and Policy Research shows in its Majority Agenda compendium, there are a range of issues — from health care to affordable housing to fair scheduling laws — where bold policy solutions are favored overwhelmingly by Americans. —Eileen Appelbaum, Mercury News, 10 June 2026

The actor and director was spotted out and about in New York City, wearing an refined ensemble very much in the rhythm of the Katie Holmes contemporary style compendium. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 June 2026

The photography compendium spans 60 pages, and includes pictures from nine photography students. —Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 20 May 2026

The idea was then taken up by other Scottish scholars, including James Frazer, whose widely read compendium The Golden Bough (1890) attempted to establish cross-cultural parallels in mythology. —Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 2 May 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