encyclopedic

adjective

en·​cy·​clo·​pe·​dic in-ˌsī-klə-ˈpē-dik How to pronounce encyclopedic (audio)
: 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
encyclopedically adverb

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 By Susan Tallman February 1, 2024, 7 AM ET Viewed benignly, the encyclopedic art museum is a great public library of things, illuminating the brilliant variety and shared impulses of our species, and promoting intercultural understanding and admiration. Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2024 During the interview, Beato regaled Jarrett with an encyclopedic knowledge of his music, never once bothering to consult notes. John Blake, CNN, 25 Feb. 2024 Scorsese continued the Telluride tale of film talent meetings that day in 1978 and talked up Wenders’ work almost as much as Wenders had his, showing his generosity towards others and encyclopedic knowledge of cinema. Liza Foreman, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2024 The den of his Parker home is decorated with John Elway memorabilia and his brain is stacked with encyclopedic knowledge of Colorado sports heroes, both rich and not so famous, from Colorado State football legend Sonny Lubick to mixed martial arts fighter Dustin Jacoby. Mark Kiszla, The Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2024 Collectors imposed their own systems and hierarchies on the art, antiques, plants and animals within their cabinets in an attempt to create an encyclopedic framework of the world’s knowledge. Anne Wallentine, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Nov. 2023 Letterboxd's list function, which allows users to collect movies on any conceivable topic, therefore seems practically made for his encyclopedic brain. EW.com, 26 Oct. 2023 Belichick, the only child of a World War II veteran who spent three decades as a Navy assistant coach, is a football historian with an encyclopedic knowledge of strategy from the sport’s early days to current NFL trends. Kyle Hightower, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024 Our affable captain shared his encyclopedic knowledge of the lake’s history and the thriving community that enlivens its shores. Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 17 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'encyclopedic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of encyclopedic was in 1824

Dictionary Entries Near encyclopedic

Cite this Entry

“Encyclopedic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encyclopedic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

encyclopedic

adjective
en·​cy·​clo·​pe·​dic
variants also encyclopaedic
in-ˌsī-klə-ˈpēd-ik
1
: of or relating to an encyclopedia
2
: covering a wide range of subjects
encyclopedic knowledge

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