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Eclectic Has a Philosophical History
Eclectic comes from the Greek adjective eklektikos, meaning “picking out, selecting what appears to be best,” which in turn comes from the verb eklegein, meaning “to select.” Eclectic was originally applied to ancient philosophers who were not committed to any single system of philosophy but instead selected whichever doctrines pleased them from every school of thought. Later, the word’s use broadened to cover other selective natures, as well as the use of elements drawn from different sources. For instance, a museum with an eclectic collection may showcase pieces from a variety of styles and periods and in different media. Similarly, a person may be said to have eclectic tastes if they enjoy a broad range, rather than a single genre, of film, music, literature, etc.
Examples of eclectic in a Sentence
Stephen C. Sautner, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2000
Her witty, mordant and splendidly vinegary observations were informed by broad and eclectic reading.
—George F. Will, Newsweek, 24 May 1999
The polo crowd is eclectic and dangerously hagridden with narcissism and treachery, and that is the way they like it.
—Hunter S. Thompson, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 1994
… big wheels of country bread and eclectic selections of pâtés, hams, cheeses, honey and all sorts of homemade cookies and sweets.
—Per-Henrik Mansson, Wine Spectator, 28 Feb. 1993
The collection includes an eclectic mix of historical artifacts.
the museum's eclectic collection has everything from a giraffe skeleton to medieval musical instruments
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025
From New York’s East Village to Seattle’s oldest neighborhood and New Orleans’ eclectic Bywater community, these vintage retailers aren’t just selling clothes—they’re preserving culture, telling stories, and encouraging consumers to slow down and value garments that were made to last.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
Ken Van Vechten, latimes.com, 21 Dec. 2017
By allying himself with the eclectics, Lloyd was ostracized by regular pharmacists.
—Jeff Suess, Cincinnati.com, 27 Oct. 2017
See All Example Sentences for eclectic
Cite this Entry
“Eclectic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eclectic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
eclectic
1 of 2 adjective
eclectic
2 of 2 noun
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