What does multivolume mean?
Multivolume is an adjective for a work that is divided into several separately bound or published volumes. The term is especially common in references to encyclopedias, dictionaries, histories, collected works, and scholarly catalogues, where the division may make a large body of material easier to organize and consult. It focuses on the work's physical or bibliographical format rather than merely its length. A multivolume publication can be short enough to fit into one volume in another edition, so the word does not necessarily imply that the subject matter is extensive. It also differs from 'voluminous,' which describes something unusually large, lengthy, or abundant without requiring division into multiple volumes. The word is chiefly formal and is especially associated with publishing, libraries, and academic contexts.
adjectiveConsisting of or published in several volumes. It may describe a comprehensive work issued as a set of books or a work that is unusually extensive in scope.
- Consisting of or issued in several volumes, especially as a set of books.
"The library acquired a multivolume encyclopedia that filled an entire shelf."
"She spent the summer reading the first volume of the multivolume history."
"The multivolume catalogue is available for consultation in the library's reading room."
A multivolume work turns an intimidating idea into a manageable shelf-sized project—one volume at a time.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does multivolume come from?
The word is formed by combining the prefix multi- meaning 'many' with volume, in the sense of a physically separate part of a work. The prefix comes from Latin multus, meaning 'much' or 'many,' while volume ultimately derives from Latin volumen, a roll or book volume. The compound became established in the context of bibliographical description for works issued as a set of books.
How multivolume is actually used
This is a formal, descriptive term, commonly used for books, reference works, catalogues, and scholarly editions. It is more specific than simply saying that a work is long and differs from 'voluminous,' which emphasizes great size or abundance rather than physical division into volumes.
Easily confused with multivolume
Multivolume describes something divided into several books or parts, whereas voluminous describes something unusually large in quantity or extent.
Multiple means consisting of more than one item, while multivolume specifically indicates a work distributed across several volumes.