anthology

noun

an·​thol·​o·​gy an-ˈthä-lə-jē 

plural anthologies

1

: a collection of selected literary pieces or passages or works of art or music

an anthology of American poetry

2

: assortment

… an anthology of threadbare clichés of … bistro cuisine …

—Jay Jacobs

anthological

ˌan(t)-thə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

Synonyms of anthology

• compilation

Examples of anthology in a Sentence

an anthology of American poetry

The band will be releasing an anthology of their earlier albums.

Recent Examples on the Web

And an anthology spinoff issue, a Halloween Special with talents such as James Tynion IV and Tony Fleecs, is being published in October. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2026

The next three chapters offer an anthology of sayings from rabbis who were active in the early centuries of the Common Era, including Hillel and Johanan ben Zakkai, among many other tannaim. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026

Elsewhere, there will be the world premiere of Shawn Ryan’s anthology series American Hostage, which stars Jon Hamm and is for MGM+, as well as Brad Caleb Kane’s Crystal Lake, the Friday the 13th prequel series from A24 that will stream on Peacock. — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 23 July 2026

The anthology feature, produced by Fable and directed by Zack London (better known as Gossip Goblin), extends the creator's existing science fiction universe, the Second Cycle of Humanity, into theaters. — Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French & New Latin; French anthologie, going back to Middle French, borrowed from New Latin anthologia, borrowed from Greek anthología "gathering of flowers," from anthológos "flower-gathering" (from antho- antho- + -logos, nominal ablaut derivative of légein "to gather, collect") + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at legend

Note: The sense "collection of extracts" is found earlier in the parallel formation anthológion, attested in Byzantine Greek.

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for anthology

• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• chronology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ecology
• ethnology

Kids Definition

anthology

noun

an·​thol·​o·​gy an-ˈthäl-ə-jē 

plural anthologies

: a collection of literary pieces

anthologist

-jəst

noun