Standard Lemma guide

encapsulation

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪʃən

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of enclosing in a capsule; the growth of a membrane around (any part) so as to enclose it in a capsule.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Grouping together an object’s ‘state’ (its data) and the operations that may alter or interrogate it (its methods).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Qualifier: object-oriented programming

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, programming, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The process of arranging data into packets that can be transmitted using a given protocol.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, networking, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

the process of enclosing (as in a capsule)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: process, physical process

5

noun

Meaning 5

the condition of being enclosed (as in a capsule)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the encapsulation of tendons in membranous sheaths

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: condition, status

History

Etymology

From en- + capsule + -ation or encapsulate + -ion.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 封装 (fēngzhuāng) — act of enclosing in a capsule
  • Finnish: kapselointi — act of enclosing in a capsule
  • French: encapsulation — act of enclosing in a capsule
  • German: Abkapselung — act of enclosing in a capsule
  • Indonesian: enkapsulasi — act of enclosing in a capsule
  • Japanese: カプセル化 (kapuseruka) — act of enclosing in a capsule
  • Romanian: încapsulare — act of enclosing in a capsule
  • Spanish: encapsulación — act of enclosing in a capsule
  • Turkish: encapsulation — act of enclosing in a capsule
  • Czech: zapouzdření — object-oriented programming: grouping together an object's state
  • Esperanto: enkapsuligo — object-oriented programming: grouping together an object's state
  • Finnish: kapselointi — object-oriented programming: grouping together an object's state
  • French: encapsulation — object-oriented programming: grouping together an object's state
  • German: Kapselung — object-oriented programming: grouping together an object's state
  • Greek: ενθυλάκωση (enthylákosi) — object-oriented programming: grouping together an object's state
  • Icelandic: hjúpun — object-oriented programming: grouping together an object's state
  • Persian: پنهانیدن — object-oriented programming: grouping together an object's state
  • Persian: پنهانش — object-oriented programming: grouping together an object's state
  • Finnish: paketointi — networking: arranging data into packets
  • Persian: لفیدن — networking: arranging data into packets
  • Persian: لفش — networking: arranging data into packets
Real reading context

encapsulation in complete knowledge articles