Eclectic comes from the Greek adjective eklektikos, meaning “picking out, selecting what appears to be best,” which in turn comes from the verb eklegein, meaning “to select.”

ECLECTIC definition: selecting or choosing from various sources. See examples of eclectic used in a sentence.

Methods, beliefs, ideas, etc. that are eclectic combine whatever seem the best or most useful things from many different areas or systems, rather than following a single system:

Definition of eclectic adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles: an eclectic taste in music; an eclectic approach to managing the economy.

The grand foyer of the Palais Garnier, by Charles Garnier, 1860–1875. Stylistically, it aimed for a Baroque opulence through lavishly decorated monumental structures that evoked Louis XIV 's …

Factsheet What does the word eclectic mean? There are six meanings listed in OED's entry for the word eclectic. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

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 …

Jun 22, 2025 · eclectic (comparative more eclectic, superlative most eclectic) Selecting a mixture of what appears to be best of various doctrines, methods or styles. quotations

An eclectic collection of objects, ideas, or beliefs is wide-ranging and comes from many different sources.