mélange

American  

[mey-lahnzh, -lahnj] / meɪˈlɑ̃ʒ, -ˈlɑndʒ /

noun

plural

mélanges

1. a mixture; medley.

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melange British  

/ meɪˈlɑːnʒ /

noun

1. a mixture; confusion

2. geology a totally disordered mixture of rocks of different shapes, sizes, ages, and origins

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mélange Scientific  

/ mā-länzh′ /

1. A metamorphic rock formation created from materials scraped off the top of a downward moving tectonic plate in a subduction zone. Mélanges occur where plates of oceanic crust subduct beneath plates of continental crust, as along the western coast of South America. They consist of intensely deformed marine sediments and ocean-floor basalts and are characterized by the lack of regular strata, the inclusion of fragments and blocks of various rock types, and the presence of minerals that form only under high pressure and low temperature conditions.

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Usage

What does mélange mean? A mélange is a mixture or medley, especially of a wide range or variety of items. It is sometimes spelled without the accent mark, as melange. In geology, it is used in a more specific way to refer to a disordered mixture of rocks of different shapes, sizes, ages, and origins. Such a mixture occurs due to the movement of tectonic plates. Another specific use of mélange refers to a type of fabric made with different colored threads. Example: The documentary is a mélange of video clips, still photos, interviews, and animated sequences.

Etymology

Origin of mélange

1645–55; < French; Old French meslance, equivalent to mesl ( er ) to mix ( meddle ) + -ance noun suffix ≪ Germanic -ingō -ing ¹

Explanation

Why call it a mixture when it can be a melange? A tricolor vegetable melange makes even carrots, peas, and corn sound like gourmet cuisine. A melange is any combination of anything, but the word always heightens the glamour quotient. The French have a way of making simple words sound like romantic entreaties of love. Call any random assortment of things a melange, or as it's sometimes spelled, mélange, and voila, you've given it a sparkle that plain old words like combination, mixture, and blend just cannot convey. This word — along with a melange of other attributes, like great bread and pastries, delicious wine, and fine fashion — are all reasons why we love the French. All that accordion music? Not so much.

Example Sentences

For Lepore, the Constitution is a blueprint of a cathedral, one that has morphed since its inception, rather like New York’s unfinished St. John the Divine with its mélange of architectural styles.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2025

Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation, and emerging diseases are among the mélange of climate impacts changing what's grown in breadbaskets around the world.

From Salon • Jan. 30, 2025

The production is conceived, directed and choreographed by Kate Prince in a mélange of hip-hop and contemporary styles, and the dancers in her company, ZooNation, are technically amazing and totally committed.

From New York Times • May 2, 2024

A mélange of different ethnic identities, languages, religions, castes, and customs makes up the 1.5 billion humans who live here.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 3, 2024

It smelled dirtier every day, a wretched mélange of fish and mud and chemicals.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

Related Words

• hodgepodge
• jumble
• medley
• miscellany