encapsulate

verb

en·​cap·​su·​late in-ˈkap-sə-ˌlāt How to pronounce encapsulate (audio)
en-
encapsulated; encapsulating

transitive verb

1
: to enclose in or as if in a capsule
a pilot encapsulated in the cockpit
2
: epitomize, summarize
encapsulate an era in an aphorism
encapsulation noun

Did you know?

We’ll keep it brief by encapsulating the history of this word in just a few sentences. Encapsulate and its related noun, capsule, come to us from capsula, a diminutive form of the Latin noun capsa, meaning “box.” (Capsa also gave us the “container” or “box” meaning of the noun case.) The earliest examples of encapsulate are for its literal use (“to enclose something in a capsule”) and date to the late 19th century. Its extended meaning, “to give a summary or synopsis of something,” plays on the notion of a capsule being something compact, self-contained, and often easily digestible.

Examples of encapsulate in a Sentence

The contaminated material should be encapsulated and removed. can you encapsulate the president's speech in about a paragraph?
Recent Examples on the Web The movie is studded with lines and moments that stand out as virtual headlines to encapsulate Garland’s view of that profession. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2024 Or, just up the road is the intimate and charming Shelter Island House, a 19th-century hotel with 11 rooms elegantly styled to encapsulate the perfect coastal hideaway. Kira Turnbull, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for encapsulate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'encapsulate.' 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

1872, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of encapsulate was in 1872

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Dictionary Entries Near encapsulate

Cite this Entry

“Encapsulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encapsulate. Accessed 4 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

encapsulate

verb
en·​cap·​su·​late in-ˈkap-sə-ˌlāt How to pronounce encapsulate (audio)
encapsulated; encapsulating
1
: to enclose in a capsule
2
: to tell or relate (as a report) in a few words
encapsulation noun

Medical Definition

encapsulate

verb
en·​cap·​su·​late in-ˈkap-sə-ˌlāt How to pronounce encapsulate (audio)
encapsulated; encapsulating

transitive verb

: to surround, encase, or protect in or as if in a capsule
DNA has been encapsulated in microspheresPaul Smaglik

intransitive verb

: to become encapsulated
a bacillus that encapsulates in the human body
encapsulation noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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