panoply

noun

pan·​o·​ply ˈpa-nə-plē 

plural panoplies

1

a

: a full suit of armor

Knights in panoply were ready for battle.

b

: ceremonial attire

The nobles were in panoply for the coronation.

2

: something forming a protective covering

faces dim in a panoply of smoke

—William Baucke

3

a

: a magnificent or impressive array

the full panoply of a military funeral

woods … in their full panoply of autumn foliage

—S. P. B. Mais

b

: a display of all appropriate appurtenances

no need for the panoply of power

windows … beyond which the usual panoply of modern mechanical conveniences can brazenly flourish

—Lewis Mumford

Did you know?

Despite having Greek origins and similar sounds, panoply is not related—etymologically or semantically—to monopoly; its history has more to do with Mediterranean warfare than Mediterranean Avenue. Panoply comes from the Greek word panoplia, which referred to the full suit of armor worn by hoplites, heavily armed infantry soldiers of ancient Greece. Panoplia is a blend of the prefix pan-, meaning “all,” and hopla, meaning “arms” or “armor.” (As you may have guessed, hopla is also an ancestor of hoplite.) Panoply entered English in the early 17th century with its Greek use intact: it referred to a full set of armor—an impressive array, you might say, of protective bits and bobs, from breastplates to brassards. Over time, panoply developed its figurative sense referring to an impressive, extensive collection or array of things, as in “She won the game by bankrupting her opponents with a panoply of properties built up with houses and hotels.”

Examples of panoply in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Meaney’s face somehow encapsulates the panoply of frenzy with hundreds of photographers, cameras, lights and mics jammed outside the one-time celebrity hangout. —Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2025

With younger viewers gravitating to a panoply of non-traditional voices for information, CBS News can’t afford to let its connection to audiences fray. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025

On Wednesday, American fans will be forced to say farewell to Vera Stanhope, Detective Chief Inspector of the Northumberland Police Department, a character who remains unique even amid the panoply of idiosyncratic police detectives that British television produces each and every year. —Mary McNamara, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2025

This year’s Passages cannot hope to capture the full panoply of those who died in 2024. —David Colton, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek panoplia, from pan- + hopla arms, armor, plural of hoplon tool, weapon — more at hoplite

First Known Use

circa 1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

panoply

noun

pan·​o·​ply ˈpan-ə-plē 

plural panoplies

1

: a full suit of armor

2

: a protective covering

3

: a magnificent arrangement or display

panoplied

-plēd

adjective