encyclopedia

noun

en·​cy·​clo·​pe·​dia in-ˌsī-klə-ˈpē-dē-ə 

: a work that contains information on all branches of knowledge or treats comprehensively a particular branch of knowledge usually in articles arranged alphabetically often by subject

Examples of encyclopedia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The cheap paperbacks with yellowed pages, outdated cookbooks, and encyclopedias can be tossed. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 June 2026

That was my pre-internet encyclopedia, going through microfilms and doing research. —Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 8 June 2026

Gates worked as a multimedia product developer for Microsoft in the 1980s, working on projects that included the company’s word processing software, Microsoft Word, and the company’s encyclopedia project, Encarta. —Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 1 June 2026

Wikipedia editors are discussing a strike and have even suggested changing its fundraising banners to critique recent layoffs at the Wikimedia Foundation, which maintains the online encyclopedia. —Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 30 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin encyclopaedia course of general education, from Greek enkyklios + paideia education, child rearing, from paid-, pais child — more at few

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for encyclopedia

• cyclopaedia
• cyclopedia
• hypermedia
• intermedia
• multimedia
• comedia
• commedia
• encyclopaedia

Kids Definition

encyclopedia

noun

en·​cy·​clo·​pe·​dia

variants also encyclopaedia

in-ˌsī-klə-ˈpēd-ē-ə

: a work that contains information on all subjects or one that covers a certain subject thoroughly usually with articles arranged alphabetically

Etymology

from Latin encyclopedia "course of general education," from Greek enkyklios "general, all-around," literally, "circular" and Greek paideia "education, child rearing"