detailed
Americanadjective
-
having many details.
a detailed problem.
- Synonyms:
- complicated, complex, involved
-
thorough in the treatment of details; minute.
a detailed report.
- Synonyms:
- comprehensive, thorough, exhaustive
adjective
Other Word Forms
- detailedly adverb
- detailedness noun
- nondetailed adjective
- overdetailed adjective
- undetailed adjective
Etymology
Origin of detailed
Explanation
Use the adjective detailed when you're talking about something that's full of specific points or facts. A detailed weather report includes temperature, cloud cover, and the possibility of rain. Something that's detailed is focused on the fine points or small aspects — a detailed portrait of your grandmother includes every wisp of hair and subtle shade of skin. Detailed explanations take some time, because the person doing the explaining isn't leaving any detail out. The literal Old French meaning of the noun detail is "a cutting in pieces," and it's used to mean "small piece or quantity."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Under the ethics agreement detailed in the Ethics in Government Act, those arrangements would end and all outstanding fees would be fixed before he joins the Fed.
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
There have been local protests and some politicians objected with councillor Rachel Millward telling the BBC the Home Office had not engaged with the community or properly detailed the plans.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
The authorities said Meta had 48 hours to confirm receipt of the letter and provide a detailed implementation plan to address the issues within seven calendar days.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
Because older datasets did not include detailed causes of death, it was not possible to separate these external influences from deaths linked to biological aging.
From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026
Dad had once brought us this way virtually, in an annoyingly detailed PowerPoint, but I think I would have remembered the endless black tunnel portion of the presentation.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
