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Definition of "comprehensive" []

  • So large in scope or content as to include much: a comprehensive history of the revolution. (adjective)
  • Marked by or showing extensive understanding: comprehensive knowledge. (adjective)
  • An examination or series of examinations covering the entire field of major study, given in the final undergraduate or graduate year of college. Often used in the plural. (noun)
  • A preliminary layout showing all the elements planned for an advertisement. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "comprehensive" in a sentence
  • "The Bush administration tended not to use "comprehensive," a code word for peace between Israel and all its remaining Arab adversaries: the Palestinians, Syria and Lebanon."
  • "First, we dropped the word comprehensive from the title of the bill."
  • "He uses the term comprehensive immigration reform a lot more often."