Panoply
/ˈpænəpli/
nounC2
Definition
Panoply means a full or complete set of things, often shown all together in a way that looks impressive or grand. It can mean a wide range or a large group of items, people, or qualities shown at once.
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See It in Action
A complete or impressive collection of things
- •The museum displayed a panoply of ancient weapons.
- •The festival featured a panoply of colorful costumes and music.
- •She showed a panoply of skills during the performance.
A full set of armor or equipment (older or literary use)
- •The knight wore a panoply of shining armor.
- •In the story, the hero donned a panoply before battle.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "panoply" like "group" (A1 word), but MUCH bigger and more impressive—like a big show of many things.
- ✓Picture a museum room full of colorful, different suits of armor, all shiny and arranged together.
- ✓It feels like seeing a big, beautiful parade with many different floats and costumes all at once.
- ✓Sounds like "PAN-uh-plee" → Imagine a PAN full of many different tasty foods all at once, showing variety and richness.
- ✓In stories, knights wore a panoply of armor—this means all the armor parts together, strong and complete.
- ✓NOT like "some" or "few"—panoply means a large, full set, not just a small part.
- ✓NOT like "collection" in a small sense—panoply is grand, impressive, and often shows variety and richness.
Try Other Words
- •Array: a large, impressive group or number (Use when emphasizing order or arrangement)
- •Display: something shown for people to see (Use when focusing on presentation)
- •Range: a variety of different things (Use when focusing on diversity rather than size)
- •Collection: a group of things gathered together (Use when the group is smaller or less grand)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: from Greek "pan-" (all) + "hopla" (arms, armor) → meaning "all arms" or full armor
- •Etymology: Greek origin, originally meaning a full set of armor worn by a soldier
- •Historical development: Used in English from the 16th century to mean full armor, later broadened to mean any full or impressive display
- •Modern usage: Now often used to describe any large, impressive group or variety of things, not just armor
Reflect & Connect
•How can the idea of a "panoply" help you describe things that are very complete or show many parts at once?
•Can you think of a situation where seeing a panoply of something would make you feel amazed or impressed?
Fill in the blanks
1.The art gallery showed a panoply of paintings, so visitors could ___ different styles and colors.
2.A panoply of stars appeared in the sky, making the night feel ___ and magical.
3.Unlike a small collection, a panoply includes a ___ number of items all displayed together.
4.The knight’s panoply was not just armor but also a symbol of ___ and strength.
5.When the festival began, a panoply of music and dance ___ the streets with energy.
6.A panoply usually ___ many different types or styles, not just one kind.
7.Seeing a panoply of achievements in her career, people knew she was very ___ and talented.