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

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

Before moving to Berkeley, she received her bachelor’s degree from USC in cinema and media studies and worked an eclectic series of jobs across the entertainment, fashion, media and service industries.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026

Episodic television represents a new frontier for Cage, an actor who, despite having a fabulously eclectic body of work to his name, had not embraced the small screen.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

Along with the usual assortment of local Kentucky supporters, the crowd at Massie’s election night included an eclectic mix.

From Slate • May 20, 2026

The new Islamic nation—whose name means “land of the pure”—immediately attracted an eclectic international cast of characters, including Islamists and Muslim supremacists.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

A guy named Philip rounded out my eclectic group of friends.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

Related Words

• broad
• diverse
• varied
• wide-ranging