comprehensive
adjective
com·pre·hen·sive
ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv 
-prē-
1
: covering completely or broadly : inclusive
comprehensive examinations
comprehensive insurance
This is where that comprehensive review of your finances can come in handy.—
Kevin L. Matthews II
Kevin L. Matthews IIThe 2015 study was one of the first comprehensive research efforts to tally up how much plastic ends up in the ocean.—Delger Erdenesanaa
Delger Erdenesanaa2
: having or exhibiting wide mental grasp
comprehensive knowledge of a subject
comprehensively
adverb
comprehensiveness
noun
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
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
Co-winner the City of New Rochelle introduced a comprehensive zoning, permitting and public-private development structure that has expedited mixed-income housing development across the city.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
California’s housing reforms in recent years have been among the most comprehensive in the country.
—Christina Mojica, Oc Register, 26 May 2026
Los Angeles Unified School District on Tuesday broke ground on a $155 million modernization of Canoga Park High School — one of the most comprehensive campus transformations in the school’s history.
—Staff Report, Daily News, 26 May 2026
My experience spans the classroom, school leadership, county-level systems work and board governance, giving me a comprehensive understanding of how to lead change at every level.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for comprehensive
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Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
California’s housing reforms in recent years have been among the most comprehensive in the country.
—Christina Mojica, Oc Register, 26 May 2026
Los Angeles Unified School District on Tuesday broke ground on a $155 million modernization of Canoga Park High School — one of the most comprehensive campus transformations in the school’s history.
—Staff Report, Daily News, 26 May 2026
My experience spans the classroom, school leadership, county-level systems work and board governance, giving me a comprehensive understanding of how to lead change at every level.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for comprehensive
Cite this Entry
“Comprehensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprehensive. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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