eclectic

¹eclec·tic

adjective \e-ˈklek-tik, i-\

Definition of ECLECTIC

1

: selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles

2

: composed of elements drawn from various sources; also : heterogeneous

— eclec·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of ECLECTIC

1. The collection includes an eclectic mix of historical artifacts.
2. <the museum's eclectic collection has everything from a giraffe skeleton to medieval musical instruments>
3. All around us, fishers galumphed past. … They carried an eclectic array of rods, nets, buckets and coolers. —Stephen C. Sautner, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2000
4. Her witty, mordant and splendidly vinegary observations were informed by broad and eclectic reading. —George F. Will, Newsweek, 24 May 1999
5. 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
6. … 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

Origin of ECLECTIC

Greek eklektikos, from eklegein to select, from ex- out + legein to gather — more at legend

First Known Use: 1683

Related to ECLECTIC

Synonyms

assorted, miscellaneous, heterogeneous, indiscriminate, kitchen-sink, magpie, mixed, motley, patchwork, piebald, promiscuous, raggle-taggle, ragtag, varied

Antonyms

homogeneous

Related Words

manifold, multifarious; multiple, multiplex, myriad; disparate, divergent, diverse, sundry, various; chaotic, cluttered, confused, disarranged, disarrayed, disheveled (or dishevelled), disordered, farraginous, jumbled, littered, messed, messy, muddled; amalgamated, blended, combined, commingled, commixed, conglomerated, fused, incorporated, intermingled, intermixed, merged, mingled; composite, conglomerate, hybrid; unclassified, unsorted

Near Antonyms

monolithic, uniform; alike, identical, like, same; distinct, distinctive, individual, separate

Rhymes with ECLECTIC

cachectic, cathectic

²eclec·tic

noun \e-ˈklek-tik, i-\

Definition of ECLECTIC

: one who uses a method or approach that is composed of elements drawn from various sources : one who uses an eclectic method or approach

Origin of ECLECTIC

(see ¹eclectic)

First Known Use: 1817