comprehensive

adjective

com·​pre·​hen·​sive ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv 

-prē-

1

: covering completely or broadly : inclusive

comprehensive examinations

comprehensive insurance

2

: having or exhibiting wide mental grasp

comprehensive knowledge

comprehensively adverb

comprehensiveness noun

Synonyms

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

Examples of comprehensive in a Sentence

Natalie's every move was photographed, a documentation of a happy childhood as comprehensive as it was false. —John Gregory Dunne, New York Review of Books, 15 Jan. 2004

Inevitably, though, in so comprehensive an account, some important events and themes are cursorily checked off … —Isabel Fonseca, Times Literary Supplement, 29 Jan. 1993

Walcott proceeded to misinterpret these fossils in a comprehensive and thoroughly consistent manner … —Stephen Jay Gould, Wonderful Life, 1989

a comprehensive overview of European history since the French Revolution

a comprehensive listing of all the paintings generally attributed to the Dutch artist Rembrandt

Recent Examples on the Web

This tool will provide creators with a comprehensive view of their earnings across different content formats, enabling them to identify which videos and posts are generating the most revenue. —Ian Shepherd, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024

Finally, on Friday, the producer price index (PPI) and core PPI will be released alongside preliminary consumer sentiment data for October, rounding out the week with a comprehensive view of inflationary pressures and consumer outlooks. —Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 6 Oct. 2024

This proactive approach helps catch cancers that might otherwise go undetected, offering women more comprehensive care. —Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 4 Oct. 2024

Vietnam and the Philippines signed two letters of intent in August, including one on humanitarian assistance at sea, while a more comprehensive security agreement is targeted for completion later this year. —Nguyen Dieu Tu Uyen and Philip J. Heijmans / Bloomberg, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see comprehension

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing comprehensive

• comprehensive school

Kids Definition

comprehensive

adjective

com·​pre·​hen·​sive ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv 

: including much or all : full

a comprehensive course of study

a comprehensive list

comprehensiveness noun

Legal Definition

comprehensive

adjective

com·​pre·​hen·​sive ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen-siv 

: covering completely or broadly

a comprehensive insurance policy