encyclopedias

noun

plural of encyclopedia
as in books
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of encyclopedias The ban won’t cover online encyclopedias, or educational or scientific directories. — Samuel Petrequin, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026 The ban won’t cover online encyclopedias, educational or scientific directories. — ABC News, 21 July 2026 The ban won’t cover online encyclopedias, educational or scientific directories, or platforms for the development and sharing of open-source software. — Samuel Petrequin, Fortune, 20 July 2026 The cheap paperbacks with yellowed pages, outdated cookbooks, and encyclopedias can be tossed. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 June 2026 Holmquist traces his devotion to history back to age 7, when his parents bought him a set of encyclopedias. — Jim Dudlicek, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026 Google didn’t have to persuade people that typing a question into a search bar was better than navigating directories or flipping through encyclopedias. — Ira Belsky, Forbes.com, 20 Mar. 2026 Beginning in 1959, editors put in arduous work toward compiling the first encyclopedias written in Braille, the innovative code developed by Louis Braille in 19th century France. — Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 20 Dec. 2025 Instead, the eight search results ranged from a general entry about online encyclopedias to seven entries primarily about Wikipedia. — NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encyclopedias
  1. books
  2. dictionaries
  3. catalogs
Noun
  • The Met Store sells jewelry, home gifts, books, stationery, and other knick-knacks inspired by the art, architecture, and gardens of medieval Europe.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Blood of My Blood, which is based on Outlander author Diana Gabaldon’s beloved books, also stars Sam Retford, Conor MacNeill, Sara Vickers, and more.
    — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of books
Noun
  • Most dictionaries do not even list the meaning—’to kill’—that the government now proposes.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 27 July 2026
  • Christmas hams, party cocktails, elegant layer cakes, and cookout classics fill the dictionaries of Southern family recipes, but one of my favorites is a simple vinaigrette from my grandmother.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 2 July 2026
Definition of dictionaries
Noun
  • At a time when companies are trying to encourage greater engagement among their employees and with their own customers, Flipsnack’s technology that brings training manuals, sales catalogues and the right to life is proving a winner.
    — Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The new lawsuit follows an earlier suit filed by Universal Music Group, Concord, and ABKCO in October 2023 which alleged comparable misuse of their song catalogs to train Claude.
    — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of catalogs

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Cite this Entry

“Encyclopedias.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encyclopedias. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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