as in dictionary
a reference work that contains information about many different subjects or a lot of information about a particular subject
The school library's encyclopedia occupied much of the bookshelf. an encyclopedia of literature
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Recent Examples of encyclopedia
Initially, Wikipedia editors uncovered evidence that the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that oversees the online encyclopedia, seemed to be fending off a vandalism attempt.
—
Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
According to the Italian encyclopedia Treccani, a trattoria is generally more modest than a ristorante and is always autonomous—in other words, it's not connected to a hotel, train station, or ship.
—Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2026
That framing is one example out of arguably an encyclopedia’s worth of them.
—Chelsea Clinton, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2026
These talk pages are now, according to the Verge, at least five times as large as the encyclopedia itself.
—Imogen West-Knights, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encyclopedia
Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
According to the Italian encyclopedia Treccani, a trattoria is generally more modest than a ristorante and is always autonomous—in other words, it's not connected to a hotel, train station, or ship.
—Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2026
That framing is one example out of arguably an encyclopedia’s worth of them.
—Chelsea Clinton, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2026
These talk pages are now, according to the Verge, at least five times as large as the encyclopedia itself.
—Imogen West-Knights, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encyclopedia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encyclopedia
Noun
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Here is a beginner’s dictionary for 10 terms and phrases as synonymous with the Masters as pimento cheese and peach ice cream.—
Jack Leo,
AJC.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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In the dictionary What comes at the end of Easter?—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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What began as a summary for colleagues at a television station in Sacramento has developed a worldwide following, an achievement noteworthy not just for its duration — Kavanagh’s catalog may be the state’s longest-running news aggregator — but for all the things his website is not.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
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The night was positioned as a celebration of West’s catalog and influence, with guest turns meant to underscore the breadth of his musical alliances.—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In his book, Frankel suggests that the man who murdered Leila Welsh was the same man who later murdered Elizabeth Short — commonly known as the Black Dahlia — in Los Angeles in January 1947.—
Patrick Salland,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
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Breakfast and lunch are reserved for hotel guests and club members, while dinner is open to all (and fills up fast so book a table in advance).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The learning process involves no textbooks, no exercises, no memorization, no facts.—
Kristen Roupenian,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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The dispute is a textbook example of a neighborhood pushing back against development.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encyclopedia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encyclopedia. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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