encapsulate

verb

en·​cap·​su·​late in-ˈkap-sə-ˌlāt 

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

intransitive verb

: to become encapsulated

encapsulation

in-ˌkap-sə-ˈlā-shən 

en-

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.

Synonyms

• abstract
• boil down
• brief
• digest
• epitomize
• outline
• recap
• recapitulate
• reprise
• sum up
• summarize
• synopsize
• wrap up

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

His story is just one of many across New England encapsulating this problem. —U.s. Rep. Rosa Delauro, Hartford Courant, 14 Jan. 2025

Its entry into the heavy-lift market features the largest cargo space available for customers, using a 23-foot diameter fairing, the encapsulating part of the rocket that forms the cone at the top. —Richard Tribou Orlando Sentinel (tns), arkansasonline.com, 13 Jan. 2025

Then, late in the second quarter, a giant momentum swing encapsulated in one play. —Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025

Frandsen’s haunting title encapsulates the experience of countless people. —Dr. Hannah Wunsch, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

encapsulate

verb

en·​cap·​su·​late in-ˈkap-sə-ˌlāt 

encapsulated; encapsulating

1

: to enclose in a capsule

2

: to tell or relate (as a report) in a few words

encapsulation

-ˌkap-sə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

encapsulate

verb

en·​cap·​su·​late in-ˈkap-sə-ˌlāt 

encapsulated; encapsulating

transitive verb

: to surround, encase, or protect in or as if in a capsule

DNA has been encapsulated in microspheres

—Paul Smaglik

intransitive verb

: to become encapsulated

a bacillus that encapsulates in the human body

encapsulation

-ˌkap-sə-ˈlā-shən 

noun