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

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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

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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

See Examples For:

eclectic

Since his days as the frontman of Talking Heads, Mr. Byrne has been known for his eclectic taste, which has evidently expanded from samba and Afrobeat to include scientometrics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Viewers can also look forward to more of Winkleman's eclectic wardrobe choices.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

There’s even a room filled with especially eclectic pieces called “i don’t know..but i like it.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026

Albuquerque’s husband, writer Carey Peck, who has known Wolfe since high school, said of the gallerist’s eclectic circle: “Those worlds don’t go together on paper, but Ernie made the relationships, and he made that happen.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

The dank, dingy rooms housed an eclectic collection of students, both male and female.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

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Related Words

• broad
• diverse
• varied
• wide-ranging

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