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

While Jessica Lange, Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson and Billie Lourd are among those reprising their roles for the anthology’s 13th season, some notable names aren’t on the cast list. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026

The series also won the Emmy for outstanding music composition for a limited or anthology series, movie or special (original dramatic score). — Joe Otterson, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026

Also seen in Season 4 of USA’s anthology The Sinner, she is repped by Untitled and Paradigm. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026

The executive producer extraordinaire revealed that the singer was set to revive her role as Chanel #2 from the first season of Scream Queens for the latest chapter of the AHS anthology series. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 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