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

• 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

Straight from the Television Academy’s Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center, THR’s awards and television experts will weigh in on the ceremony’s top categories, including best drama series, best comedy series and best limited or anthology series. —Thr Staff, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025

Farrell and costar Cristin Milioti are both nominated for their performances in limited/anthology series categories. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025

The first season has received four Emmy nominations — best lead actor in a limited or anthology series (Gyllenhaal), best supporting actor in a limited or anthology series (Bill Camp & Peter Sarsgaard), and best supporting actress in a limited or anthology series (Ruth Negga). —Joe Otterson, Variety, 11 Sep. 2025

The new film is a spiritual sequel to Basu’s 2007 film Life In A Metro, which was also an anthology focusing on human relationships amid city life. —Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

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