comprehensive

adjective

com·​pre·​hen·​sive ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv How to pronounce comprehensive (audio)
-prē-
1
: covering completely or broadly : inclusive
comprehensive examinations
comprehensive insurance
2
: having or exhibiting wide mental grasp
comprehensive knowledge
comprehensively adverb
comprehensiveness noun

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 Hard to say, in part because policymakers have not produced such comprehensive dollar-cost studies of their own. Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 Lake Superior's five national parks are responding by creating the first comprehensive plan in the nation to achieve net zero carbon emissions. Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for comprehensive 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'comprehensive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see comprehension

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of comprehensive was in 1614

Dictionary Entries Near comprehensive

Cite this Entry

“Comprehensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprehensive. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

comprehensive

adjective
com·​pre·​hen·​sive ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv How to pronounce comprehensive (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce comprehensive (audio)
: covering completely or broadly
a comprehensive insurance policy

More from Merriam-Webster on comprehensive

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