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

The document, transmitted Monday by the NYPD Intelligence Bureau, encapsulates the full picture of Election Day threats, including the risk of physical violence and disinformation generated by foreign governments. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024

The two words encapsulated the oeuvre of Stewart, then a model turned Wall Street stockbroker turned sought-after caterer. —Mel Studach, Architectural Digest, 1 Nov. 2024

Emotional, fantastical, and a little bit gross, the moment encapsulates the spirit of both Esquivel’s Como agua para chocolate and the six-part, Spanish-language series, which premieres on Nov. 3. —Judy Berman, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024

Kate Somerville’s rich and creamy formulation, aimed at firming and brightening the skin, contains 100% pure retinol that’s encapsulated in volcanic soil. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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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