Comprehensive

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /kÉ’mpɹɪˈhÉ›nsɪv/
• US IPA: /kÉ‘mpɹəˈhÉ›nsɪv/
• Hyphenation: com + pre + hen + sive

Origin

From French compréhensif, from Late Latin comprehensivus.

Full definition of comprehensive

Adjective

1. Broadly or completely covering; including a large proportion of something.

Synonyms

• (broadly or completely covering) exhaustive, thorough, all-encompassing

Derived terms

• comprehensively
• comprehensivization
• comprehensivize

Noun

1. (British) A comprehensive school.
• 2013-07-19, Peter Wilby, Finland spreads word on schools, Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees is illegal, and so is sorting pupils into ability groups by streaming or setting.