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
Did you know?
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
Don’t forget to wash it down with a glass of vino from the encyclopedic list that wine director Chris Dunaway has put together.
—
Chadner Navarro, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Costas is a big name in broadcasting with a storied past and an encyclopedic memory of baseball history.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026
Although many aficionados may be able to exercise that skill in one or two genres, rarely does a listener possess the encyclopedic knowledge for more than that.
—Juliet Izon, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
As condolences and recollections pour in, the common thread — one that matched my own experiences when living in Doha — was that beneath Al Attiyah’s encyclopedic knowledge of the region’s history and mastery of energy politics, his humility and warmth was what drew people in.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 28 May 2026
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Chadner Navarro, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Costas is a big name in broadcasting with a storied past and an encyclopedic memory of baseball history.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026
Although many aficionados may be able to exercise that skill in one or two genres, rarely does a listener possess the encyclopedic knowledge for more than that.
—Juliet Izon, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
As condolences and recollections pour in, the common thread — one that matched my own experiences when living in Doha — was that beneath Al Attiyah’s encyclopedic knowledge of the region’s history and mastery of energy politics, his humility and warmth was what drew people in.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for encyclopedic
Cite this Entry
“Encyclopedic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encyclopedic. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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