comprehensive

Comprehensive is an adjective describing something that is complete or includes all or nearly all elements, aspects, or details of a subject. It conveys breadth as well as depth and a wide scope. The term comes from Latin comprehensus, the past participle of comprehendere, meaning to grasp together; it entered English in the 17th century and developed its sense of thorough inclusiveness through use in multiple domains.

Common uses span education, insurance, health care, law, science, and business. In education, a comprehensive exam or a comprehensive school refers to assessment or schooling that covers a wide range of topics; in the United Kingdom a comprehensive school is a non-selective secondary school. In insurance, comprehensive coverage protects against damage to the insured person’s own property beyond basic liability. In health care and public policy, comprehensive care or a comprehensive plan aims to address a full spectrum of patient needs. In research and reporting, a comprehensive review or analysis seeks to summarize all relevant evidence or components.

Synonyms include thorough, complete, all-encompassing, and exhaustive, though each term carries subtle nuance. Comprehensiveness is the noun form, and comprehensively is the adverb form. Examples of usage include a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan, comprehensive health insurance, or a comprehensive assessment of a project’s risks.