encyclopedic
adjective
en·cy·clo·pe·dic
in-ˌsī-klə-ˈpē-dik 
: 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
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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.
Synonyms
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
Michelle had encyclopedic knowledge of what had been made and remade on the coast after each of the hurricanes — most notably Katrina, which decimated this part of Mississippi in 2005.
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Cinelle Barnes, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2025
The abundance of the information ark becomes an encyclopedic abyss.
—Brendan Fitzgerald, Longreads, 27 Dec. 2024
Unlike most restaurants with encyclopedic wine lists, Grill 23 actually moved the juice, and opportunities to taste rare and notable vintages were frequent.
—Josh Condon, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2024
Finnegan is the more outgoing and affable, while Freiburger, known for his encyclopedic knowledge of hot-rodding history, describes himself as a recluse.
—Rachel Kushner, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024
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Cinelle Barnes, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2025
The abundance of the information ark becomes an encyclopedic abyss.
—Brendan Fitzgerald, Longreads, 27 Dec. 2024
Unlike most restaurants with encyclopedic wine lists, Grill 23 actually moved the juice, and opportunities to taste rare and notable vintages were frequent.
—Josh Condon, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2024
Finnegan is the more outgoing and affable, while Freiburger, known for his encyclopedic knowledge of hot-rodding history, describes himself as a recluse.
—Rachel Kushner, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for encyclopedic
Dictionary Entries Near encyclopedic
Cite this Entry
“Encyclopedic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encyclopedic. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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