assortment

American  

[uh-sawrt-muhnt] / əˈsɔrt mənt /

noun

1. the act of assorting; distribution; classification.

2. a collection of various kinds of things; a mixed collection.

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assortment British  

/ əˈsɔːtmənt /

noun

1. a collection or group of various things or sorts

2. the act of assorting

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Other Word Forms

• reassortment noun

Etymology

Origin of assortment

First recorded in 1605–15; assort + -ment

Example Sentences

Even in 1842, Charles Dickens noticed the near-ubiquity of guns in America, describing the “grisly assortment of guns and knives” Americans carried and pointing out how quickly fatal disputes developed.

From Salon

Roving among the points of view of a sprawling cast—the sisters, their scattered children and grandchildren, and an assortment of bewildered spouses and exes—the stories often center on obligatory reunions.

From The Wall Street Journal

An assortment of wrenches swung from hooks across the front.

From Literature

The drinks are excellent, whether you opt for a frozen margarita with a Tajin rim in an assortment of flavors or any of the other fruit-forward options on the menu.

From Salon

The retailer has adjusted its product assortment to keep prices low for its shoppers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• array
• collection
• combination
• hodgepodge
• jumble
• mishmash
• mixture
• selection
• sort