comprehensive
kom-prih-HEHN-sihv
Comprehensive (adjective) means covering something completely or including nearly all relevant parts. Example: “The report offers a comprehensive overview of the industry.”
adjective
1
Covering something completely or including nearly all relevant parts.
"Nevertheless, the comprehensive comparative analysis of pumpkin viromes across various geographic regions by NGS remains deficient."
— Batchimeg Togoobat, Nan Wu (2023)
"When there are diametrically opposing views on a big issue that concerns millions of people, doing comprehensive research just makes sense."
"The report offers a comprehensive overview of the industry."
"She has comprehensive health insurance."
"The museum guide gives a comprehensive account of the town's history from its beginnings."
How to use comprehensive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThorough and complete, leaving little or nothing out.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
comprehensive review
comprehensive coverage
comprehensive guide
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Word forms
- Plural
- comprehensives
- Comparative
- more comprehensive
- Superlative
- most comprehensive
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The report offers a _____ overview of the industry.
Etymology
From Late Latin comprehensivus, from Latin comprehendere — see "comprehend."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for comprehensive
See all rhymes for comprehensive →Frequently asked questions
What does “comprehensive” mean?
The word “comprehensive” means covering something completely or including nearly all relevant parts. In plain terms, thorough and complete, leaving little or nothing out.
How do you pronounce “comprehensive”?
“Comprehensive” is pronounced kom-prih-HEHN-sihv (/ˌkɑm.pɹəˈhɛn.sɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “comprehensive” in a sentence?
Here is “comprehensive” used in a sentence: “The report offers a comprehensive overview of the industry.”
What is the opposite of “comprehensive”?
The opposite of “comprehensive” — its antonyms — are incomprehensive, focused and limited.
What part of speech is “comprehensive”?
“Comprehensive” is an adjective.
Where does the word “comprehensive” come from?
The word “comprehensive” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin comprehensivus, from Latin comprehendere — see "comprehend.".
Is “comprehensive” a common word?
“Comprehensive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between comprehensive and comprehensible?
"Comprehensive" means covering something completely or including nearly all relevant parts, as in "a comprehensive guide." "Comprehensible" means able to be understood. The two look similar but are not interchangeable: a comprehensive report is thorough, while a comprehensible report is easy to understand.
What is the difference between comprehensive and extensive?
"Comprehensive" stresses completeness — including nearly everything relevant — while "extensive" stresses size or range, meaning large in amount or area. An extensive study covers a lot of ground; a comprehensive study covers essentially all of it.
When should you use comprehensive instead of complete?
Use "comprehensive" for things like guides, surveys, reviews, and insurance policies, where the point is that nearly all relevant parts are included. "Complete" simply means nothing is missing, while "comprehensive" adds the sense of deliberately wide, thorough coverage.
What are common collocations with comprehensive?
Frequent pairings include "comprehensive guide," "comprehensive review," "comprehensive list," "comprehensive coverage," and "comprehensive insurance." In British English, "comprehensive school" refers to a state school that admits pupils of all abilities.
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