comprehensive

adjective

com·​pre·​hen·​sive ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv 

-prē-

1

: covering completely or broadly : inclusive

comprehensive examinations

comprehensive insurance

This is where that comprehensive review of your finances can come in handy.

—Kevin L. Matthews II

The 2015 study was one of the first comprehensive research efforts to tally up how much plastic ends up in the ocean.

—Delger Erdenesanaa

2

: having or exhibiting wide mental grasp

comprehensive knowledge of a subject

comprehensively adverb

comprehensiveness noun

Synonyms of comprehensive

• thorough
• panoramic
• extensive
• full
• complete
• inclusive
• exhaustive
• global
• encyclopedic
• all-inclusive

Examples of comprehensive in a Sentence

Natalie's every move was photographed, a documentation of a happy childhood as comprehensive as it was false. —John Gregory Dunne, New York Review of Books, 15 Jan. 2004

Inevitably, though, in so comprehensive an account, some important events and themes are cursorily checked off … —Isabel Fonseca, Times Literary Supplement, 29 Jan. 1993

Walcott proceeded to misinterpret these fossils in a comprehensive and thoroughly consistent manner … —Stephen Jay Gould, Wonderful Life, 1989

a comprehensive overview of European history since the French Revolution

a comprehensive listing of all the paintings generally attributed to the Dutch artist Rembrandt

Recent Examples on the Web

Their scouting evaluation, comprehensive enough to unearth the aptitude beneath that bushy head of hair, compelled the team to select Bredeson in the fifth round of the 2026 draft. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Earlier this month, Abbott directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT to conduct a comprehensive audit of all data centers that are going through the grid operator's interconnection process. — Jack Fink, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Ogunyemi critiques the open-door policy, advocating for structured communication to prevent fragmentation and ensure comprehensive information flow. — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Building a comprehensive repository to chase a question that science has already answered inverts the logic of research. — Jennifer D. Oliva, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see comprehension

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing comprehensive

• comprehensive school

Rhymes for comprehensive

• apprehensive
• coextensive
• hypertensive
• hypotensive
• inexpensive
• inoffensive
• normotensive
• antihypertensive
• counteroffensive
• defensive
• expensive
• extensive

Kids Definition

comprehensive

adjective

com·​pre·​hen·​sive ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv 

: including much or all : full

a comprehensive course of study

a comprehensive list

comprehensiveness noun

Legal Definition

comprehensive

adjective

com·​pre·​hen·​sive ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen-siv 

: covering completely or broadly

a comprehensive insurance policy