comprehensive

adjective

com·​pre·​hen·​sive ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv 

-prē-

1

: covering completely or broadly : inclusive

comprehensive examinations

comprehensive insurance

2

: having or exhibiting wide mental grasp

comprehensive knowledge

comprehensively adverb

comprehensiveness noun

Synonyms

• all-embracing
• all-in [chiefly British]
• all-inclusive
• broad-gauge
• broad-gauged
• compendious
• complete
• cover-all
• cyclopedic
• embracive
• encyclopedic
• exhaustive
• full
• global
• in-depth
• inclusive
• omnibus
• panoramic
• thorough
• universal

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

Finally, employers should engage legal counsel and technical experts to conduct comprehensive compliance reviews. —Alonzo Martinez, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

The sharp decline in population—unprecedented in the absence of war, disease or famine—is concerning for the Chinese Communist Party government, which measures the one-party state's overall strength in comprehensive national power and comes amid an economic slowdown and an aging workforce. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025

Continue ahead for a comprehensive list of fashion and beauty brands that are committed to supporting the community in its time of need through donations of resources and/or a percentage proceeds to various relief funds. —Shelby Ying Hyde, Vogue, 17 Jan. 2025

That included discontinuing certain products, conducting a comprehensive internal review and taking disciplinary measures, making organizational changes and enhancing its internal controls. —Tara Siegel Bernard, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see comprehension

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing comprehensive

• comprehensive school

Kids Definition

comprehensive

adjective

com·​pre·​hen·​sive ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv 

: 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 

: covering completely or broadly

a comprehensive insurance policy