eclectic

American  

[ih-klek-tik] / ɪˈklɛk tɪk /

adjective

1. selecting or choosing from various sources.

2. made up of what is selected from different sources.

3. not following any one system, as of philosophy, medicine, etc., but selecting and using what are considered the best elements of all systems.

4. noting or pertaining to works of architecture, decoration, landscaping, etc., produced by a certain person or during a certain period, that derive from a wide range of historic styles, the style in each instance often being chosen for its fancied appropriateness to local tradition, local geography, the purpose to be served, or the cultural background of the client.

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noun

1. Also eclecticist a person who follows an eclectic method, as in philosophy or architecture.

eclectic British  

/ ɪˈklɛktɪk, ɛˈklɛk- /

adjective

1. (in art, philosophy, etc) selecting what seems best from various styles, doctrines, ideas, methods, etc

2. composed of elements drawn from a variety of sources, styles, etc

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noun

1. a person who favours an eclectic approach, esp in art or philosophy

Other Word Forms

• noneclectic
  adjective
• uneclectic
  adjective
• eclectically
  adverb
• noneclectically
  adverb
• uneclectically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of eclectic

First recorded in 1675–85; from Greek eklektikós “selective,” from eklekt(ós) “chosen, selected” (past participle of eklég(ein) “to pick out, choose,” from ek- ec- ( def. ) + légein “to pick up, gather, count, speak”; cf. dialect ( def. )) + -ikos -ic

Explanation

She listens to hip-hop, Gregorian chant, and folk music from the '60s. He's been seen wearing a handmade tuxedo jacket over a thrift-store flannel shirt. They both have eclectic tastes. The English word eclectic first appeared in the seventeenth century to describe philosophers who did not belong to a particular school of thought, but instead assembled their doctrines by picking and choosing from a variety of philosophical systems. Today, the word can refer to any assemblage of varied parts. You can have an eclectic group of friends (friends from diverse groups), eclectic taste in furniture (a mixture of 18th-century French chairs, Andy Warhol paintings, and Persian rugs), or enjoy eclectic cuisine (fusion cooking that uses ingredients from different national cuisines).

Example Sentences

Eclectic, artistic and unusual, all reflect the mind and manners of Chihuly.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 21, 2023

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was devastating for designer Penny Francis, who owns the New Orleans shop Eclectic Home.

From Washington Post • Mar. 23, 2022

Eclectic items from the estate of Coachella Valley philanthropist Jim Houston will be sold off this weekend, including jade carvings, wooden totem poles and assorted snuff bottles.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2019

SAT-SUN Eclectic experience of art and performance in the woods, four performance stages, mixed media art installations in rustic cabins, food trucks, beer garden, activities, hiking trails, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 26, 2019

Giving up his obligations at the Eclectic and leaving Lucretia and Trot to move in with her parents in Hiram, Garfield went to war.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

Related Words

• broad
• diverse
• varied
• wide-ranging