encyclopedic
adjective
en·cy·clo·pe·dic
in-ˌsī-klə-ˈpē-dik 
: of, relating to, or suggestive of an encyclopedia or its methods of treating or covering a subject : comprehensive
an encyclopedic mind
an encyclopedic collection of armor
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In Greek, paidaea meant not simply "child-rearing" but also "education", and kyklios meant "general;" thus, an encyclopedia is a work broad enough to provide a kind of general education. The world's most eminent general encyclopedia, the Encyclopaedia Britannica, is a huge work that covers every field of human knowledge. But encyclopedic doesn't have to refer to books; it's often used to describe the wide-ranging knowledge that certain types of minds just can't stop acquiring.
Examples of encyclopedic in a Sentence
She published an encyclopedic study of ancient Egypt.
The event was described in encyclopedic detail.
his almost encyclopedic knowledge of movies
Recent Examples on the Web
One of the highlights of the episode—Swift’s apparently encyclopedic knowledge of football.
—
Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025
Waiting in the greenroom was Robert Alan York, a veteran organist who studied classical repertory and improvisation in Paris and also possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of the American songbook.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
In the beginning of Big Fiction, there were encyclopedic novels and mega-novels and then maximal novels.
—Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Philip told The Indianapolis Star that Gunner was a true athlete and held an encyclopedic knowledge of all kinds of professional sports.
—Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025
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Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025
Waiting in the greenroom was Robert Alan York, a veteran organist who studied classical repertory and improvisation in Paris and also possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of the American songbook.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
In the beginning of Big Fiction, there were encyclopedic novels and mega-novels and then maximal novels.
—Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Philip told The Indianapolis Star that Gunner was a true athlete and held an encyclopedic knowledge of all kinds of professional sports.
—Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encyclopedic
Cite this Entry
“Encyclopedic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encyclopedic. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.
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