encapsulate
verb
Did you know?
We’ll keep it brief by encapsulating the history of this word in just a few sentences. Encapsulate and its related noun, capsule, come to English (via French) from capsula, a diminutive form of the Latin noun capsa, meaning “box.” (Capsa also gave English the word case as it refers to a container or box—not to be confused with the case in “just in case,” which is a separate case.) The earliest examples of encapsulate are for its literal use, “to enclose something in a capsule,” and they date to the late 19th century. Its extended meaning, “to give a summary or synopsis of something,” plays on the notion of a capsule being something compact, self-contained, and often easily digestible.
Examples of encapsulate in a Sentence
Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
For me, the title encapsulates how the royal family is moving forward, honoring tradition while adopting a more open and modern approach to the monarchy.
—Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 3 Mar. 2026
But that doesn’t fully encapsulate his role.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Simultaneously, a conditioning complex of peptides, ceramides, encapsulated hyaluronic acid, and botanical ingredients works to smooth, cushion, and replenish moisture where it’s most needed.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encapsulate
Cite this Entry
“Encapsulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encapsulate. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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encapsulate
verb
Medical Definition
encapsulate
verb
Paul Smaglik
