encapsulate
verb
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 English (via French) from capsula, a diminutive form of the Latin noun capsa, meaning “box.” (Capsa also gave English the word case as it refers to a container or box—not to be confused with the case in “just in case,” which is a separate case.) The earliest examples of encapsulate are for its literal use, “to enclose something in a capsule,” and they 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.
Examples of encapsulate in a Sentence
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026
Previous research involved encapsulating calcium lactate, nutrients, and spores in lightweight aggregates and/or capsules.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026
When Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico had each of her players bring in a quote that resonates with them, sophomore guard Olivia Olson provided one that truly encapsulates the Wolverines heading into the only women's NCAA Tournament regional final matching the top two seeds.
—CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
In that sense, the end of San Antonio’s playoff-clinching victory over Phoenix on Thursday night encapsulated the last six years.
—Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encapsulate
Cite this Entry
“Encapsulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encapsulate. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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encapsulate
verb
Medical Definition
encapsulate
verb
Paul Smaglik
