encyclopedic

American  

[en-sahy-kluh-pee-dik] / ɛnˌsaɪ kləˈpi dɪk /

Also encyclopedical, or encyclopaedic

adjective

1. pertaining to or of the nature of an encyclopedia; relating to all branches of knowledge.

2. comprehending a wide variety of information; comprehensive.

   an encyclopedic memory.

   Synonyms:

   wide-ranging, exhaustive, all-inclusive, all-embracing

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encyclopedic British  

/ ɛnˌsaɪkləʊˈpiːdɪk /

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or relating to an encyclopedia

2. covering a wide range of knowledge; comprehensive

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Other Word Forms

• encyclopaedically adverb
• encyclopedically adverb
• nonencyclopaedic adjective
• nonencyclopedic adjective
• nonencyclopedical adjective

Etymology

Origin of encyclopedic

First recorded in 1815–25; encycloped(ia) + -ic

Example Sentences

He is a solid writer with an encyclopedic grasp of his subject.

From The Wall Street Journal

Now he deploys his fluency in car-dealer speak and his encyclopedic knowledge of dealer inventory to try to talk down the sticker prices.

From The Wall Street Journal

Expansion, he said, is important for an encyclopedic museum, responsible for chronicling art history across many genres, geographies and media.

From Los Angeles Times

Famous for his encyclopedic knowledge of the benchmark stock index and his fast-paced Brooklyn burr, he has been a markets data maven for everyone from Wall Street analysts to financial journalists.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rubin’s skills, former colleagues say, included an encyclopedic recall, the ability to explain his bets in plain English and a high threshold for risk.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• exhaustive
• extensive
• thorough
• vast
• wide-ranging