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

His anthology of traditional old time/roots recordings was brilliantly curated, the descriptions were laconic, quixotic, and memorable. — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026

His short The Deep End recently debuted on Tubi as part of Bite Size Terror, a horror anthology series executive produced by Peter Rice. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 10 Nov. 2026

All of Jane Austen‘s wallflowers will be given their chance to bloom as BritBox launches an anthology franchise off the back of The Other Bennet Sister‘s success. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 9 Nov. 2026

Her award-winning travel anthology A Gelato a Day was published in fall 2022. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 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