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.

Understanding the Context

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 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.

Key Insights

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