anthology

American  

[an-thol-uh-jee] / ænˈθɒl ə dʒi /

noun

anthologies plural

1. a book or other collection of selected writings by various authors, usually in the same literary form, of the same period, or on the same subject.

   an anthology of Elizabethan drama; an anthology of modern philosophy.

2. a collection of selected writings by one author.

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anthology British  

/ ˌænθəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, ænˈθɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. a collection of literary passages or works, esp poems, by various authors

2. any printed collection of literary pieces, songs, works of art, etc

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Other Word Forms

• anthological
  adjective
• anthologically
  adverb
• anthologist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of anthology

First recorded in 1630–40; from Latin anthologia, from Greek: “collection of poems,” literally, “gathering of flowers,” from anthológ(os) “flower-gathering” ( antho- antho- + -logos, adjective derivative of légein “to gather, recount, say, speak”) + -ia -ia

Explanation

A collection of writings is an anthology. The heavy textbooks that span the literature of an entire culture and that school children transport in over-sized backpacks with wheels? Those are anthologies. An anthology used to be just a collection of poetry, and the word came from the 17th-century Greek word anthologia for "flower gathering" or "collecting." A contemporary anthology can include anything from classic literature to rap music lyrics. Often an anthology focuses on one type, or genre, of writing, as in an anthology of horse riding haikus, or even an anthology of writings on writing. However, sometimes textbook-style anthologies — like Global Literature — will ambitiously try to include works from writers throughout the ages and from throughout the world.

Example Sentences

The anthology show's running theme of anger is "just the wrapping paper" for those deeper issues, he says.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

This first installment of Murphy’s latest anthology franchise is a serviceable romance in a time when such stories rarely receive even modest studio budgets, let alone wide theatrical release.

From Salon • Feb. 12, 2026

The Globes also honor the best in television, with HBO's black comedy anthology "The White Lotus," sci-fi office thriller "Severance" and searing teen murder saga "Adolescence" leading the contenders.

From Barron's • Jan. 11, 2026

Holmes and Watson first appeared in the novel “A Study in Scarlet,” published in 1887, but the estate attempted to block an anthology of Holmes stories by outside authors planned for 2013.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2025

Here, Courtney, is your contribution to the anthology of my life.

From "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher