comprehension

/ˈkɑmprəˌhɛntʃən/

/kɒmprɪˈhɛnʃən/

Other forms: comprehensions

The word comprehension means understanding. When you lack comprehension of a difficult word, you will likely need to look up its definition and usage in a cool, down-to-earth online dictionary!

Comprehension actually comes from the Latin term, comprehensionem, which means "a seizing." When you have comprehension of a subject, you have seized information and incorporated it into your own knowledge. Any kind of mental grasping of an idea or a subject is a kind of comprehension. You might attempt comprehension of a curious situation, like the fact that your goofy roommate always manages to date models. Sometimes, such mysteries are beyond comprehension!

Definitions of comprehension

1. noun

   an ability to understand the meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result)
   “how you can do that is beyond my comprehension”

   “he was famous for his comprehension of American literature”

   antonyms:

   incomprehension

   an inability to understand

   type of:

   apprehension, discernment, savvy, understanding

   the cognitive condition of someone who understands
2. noun

   the relation of comprising something
   synonyms: inclusion

   type of:

   involvement

   a connection of inclusion or containment