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

The series has been renewed for another installment, officially moving into anthology territory as the second season will be unrelated to the first. —Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026

Doherty previously won the 2025 Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie, and is coming off a Critics Choice Awards win for best supporting actress in a limited series or movie made for television. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 12 Jan. 2026

Japan would reboot Godzilla for a second time with the Millennium era, adopting an anthology approach to mixed results. —James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026

As a producer, Russo’s feature credits include the Mickey Rourke-starring horror anthology Nightmare Cinema and the Zac Efron and Russell Crowe-starring The Greatest Beer Run Ever. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Jan. 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