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
Zachary Reed, Mercury News, 23 June 2026
CeraVe’s Resurfacing Retinol Serum combines encapsulated retinol with skin-supporting ceramides to help refine texture, smooth the look of fine lines, and promote a more even-looking complexion over time.
—Kieaundria Bellamy, InStyle, 23 June 2026
That was best encapsulated in the form of Curaçao’s transcendent goalkeeper Eloy Room, whose surname belied what Ecuador found behind him.
—Kansas City Star, 21 June 2026
Legendary Hungary team denied their crowning glory The Hungarian team of the early 1950s was one of the greatest in the history of football, with their dominance best encapsulated by their two myth-shattering thrashings of England in consecutive years.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 20 June 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 24 Jun. 2026.
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encapsulate
verb
Medical Definition
encapsulate
verb
Paul Smaglik
