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.

---

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

---

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

See Examples For:

eclectic

It was just this eclectic little store that had a bit of everything.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

The property’s design is a stark contrast from the eclectic, maximalist aesthetic the cartwheeling designer has become known for, boasting a sleek open concept with a neutral color palette and exposed wood ceiling beams.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2026

The Fable’s crowd and the songs they choose are eclectic, spanning generations and musical tastes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026

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

The bookshop was dimly cool, its air moody and eclectic, books, CDs, and magazines spread out on low shelves.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• broad
• diverse
• varied
• wide-ranging

---