What does "wikipedia" mean?
A version of the encyclopedia Wikipedia in a particular language.
Wikipedia
/ˌwɪ.kiˈpidi.ə/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A version of the encyclopedia Wikipedia in a particular language.
- Grammar: wikipedia is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: digital encyclopedia, encyclopedic content, online encyclopedia, web encyclopedia.
- Useful contrasts: offline encyclopedia, peer reviewed article, print encyclopedia.
- Usage evidence: I wouldn't have thought I would someday look up "Viagra" in Wikipedia.
How to use "wikipedia"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "wikipedia" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "wikipedia" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "wikipedia" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "wikipedia" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "wikipedia" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "digital encyclopedia" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "wikipedia", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A version of the encyclopedia Wikipedia in a particular language.
"There are over five million articles on the English Wikipedia."
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of Wikipedia. alt-of
- 3 A wiki or similar collaborative database, especially one that is also an encyclopaedia.
"His new project is to create a Wikipedia for UFO sightings from all around the world."
- 4 An article or page on Wikipedia. colloquial
"He learned a lot of things according to his Wikipedia / and demonstrates his ample intellect on social media."
- 5 A source of abundant encyclopedic knowledge. colloquial, figuratively
"Her mind was a Wikipedia of useless information."
Verb
- 1 To consult Wikipedia for information. colloquial, intransitive
"Did a bit of Wikipediaing: […]"
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of Wikipedia. alt-of
- 3 To search Wikipedia for information on a specific subject. colloquial, transitive
"I mean, it's true, if Katie Holmes had not become engaged to Tom Cruise, we'd all still be Wikipeidaing her, looking her up, trying to figure out exactly why do I know her, what was she in, is she famous?"
Proper Noun
- 1 A free-content, multilingual, online encyclopedia and wiki run by the Wikimedia Foundation.
"He joined Wikipedia two years ago."
- 2 The community that develops Wikipedia. metonymically
"In August 2009, Wikipedia announced that it planned a move that many saw as a step away from its freewheeling ethos of anyone can edit."
- 3 A main-belt asteroid (No. 274301).
Synonyms
All synonyms digital encyclopediaencyclopedic contentonline encyclopediaweb encyclopediawikipedia articleswikipedia content
Antonyms
offline encyclopediapeer reviewed articleprint encyclopedia
Example
"I wouldn't have thought I would someday look up "Viagra" in Wikipedia."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "wikipedia"?
Common synonyms include: digital encyclopedia, encyclopedic content, online encyclopedia, web encyclopedia, wikipedia articles, wikipedia content.
How do you use "wikipedia" in a sentence?
I wouldn't have thought I would someday look up "Viagra" in Wikipedia.
How do you pronounce "wikipedia"?
Pronounced /ˌwɪ.kiˈpidi.ə/.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Polynesian *witi Hawaiian wiki Hawaiian wikiwikider. English wiki ▲ Proto-Indo-European *h₁en- Proto-Indo-European *h₁en- Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Ancient Greek ἐν (en) Ancient Greek ἐν- (en-) Proto-Indo-European *kʷel- Proto-Indo-European *kʷékʷlos Ancient Greek κύκλος (kúklos) Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Ancient Greek -ιος (-ios) Ancient Greek ἐγκύκλῐος (enkúklĭos) Proto-Indo-European *peh₂w-der. Proto-Hellenic *pā́wits Ancient Greek παῖς (paîs) Ancient Greek -εύς (-eús) Ancient Greek -εύω (-eúō) Ancient Greek παιδεύω (paideúō) Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂ Ancient Greek -ία (-ía) Ancient Greek παιδείᾱ (paideíā) Ancient Greek ἐγκύκλιος παιδείᾱ (enkúklios paideíā)bor. New Latin encyclopaedīalbor. English encyclopedia blend English Wikipedia Blend of wiki + encyclopedia, coined by Larry Sanger in 2001. By surface analysis, wiki + -pedia.