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Meaning of eclectic in English:

eclectic

Pronunciation /ɪˈklɛktɪk/

See synonyms for eclectic

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adjective

  • 1Deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

    ‘universities offering an eclectic mix of courses’
    • ‘her musical tastes are eclectic’
    • ‘He is very eclectic and his mix of abilities is so different from the common concept of an artist.’
    • ‘Some music fans with extremely eclectic tastes may find this band's music appealing.’
    • ‘By contrast, Olivia seems to have eclectic taste and her opinions about music neatly worked out.’
    • ‘However, Sparks illustrate the limited options for bands of a certain age and eclectic style.’
    • ‘Indeed there are eclectic styles and influences very much in evidence here.’
    • ‘Could Mack's broad attitude reflect his eclectic liberal education and training?’
    • ‘Pope brings an active, eclectic style to the movie that always keeps the eye entertained.’
    • ‘Indeed, the very broad, eclectic nature of this work is one of its major strengths.’
    • ‘To make up for this seeming gap, he became a voracious reader, very eclectic in his taste.’
    • ‘We are both writers, both new to the city, and we each have eclectic taste in music.’
    • ‘Your music is quite eclectic, ranging from beautiful ambient moments to highly deconstructed beats.’
    • ‘She has eclectic taste in music and an ever-expanding CD collection.’
    • ‘As you can see, I have very eclectic taste.’
    • ‘Norwegians endeared themselves to me early with their amazingly eclectic taste in popular culture.’
    • ‘The festival opens on Tuesday, Feb. 6 with a varied and somewhat eclectic orchestral program.’
    • ‘I like reading… anything, everything, my tastes are exceedingly eclectic.’
    • ‘Although my streaming radio tastes are eclectic, they seldom include "top 10" radio stations.’
    • ‘Or does the beauty in your new-found freedom lie in your ability to be eclectic?’
    • ‘I will miss his eclectic, enthusiastic, unassuming, rugged individualism.’
    • ‘The atmosphere is cosy, the decor eclectic, but the overall ambience revolves around the staff.’
    wide-ranging, wide, broad, broad-ranging, broad-based, extensive, comprehensive, encyclopedic, general, universal, varied, diverse, diversified, catholic, liberal, cross-disciplinary, interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, all-embracing, non-exclusive, inclusive, indiscriminate, many-sided, multifaceted, multifarious, heterogeneous, miscellaneous, assorted
    selective, selecting, choosing, picking and choosing
    View synonyms

  • 2

    (also Eclectic)
    Philosophy
    Denoting or belonging to a class of ancient philosophers who did not belong to or found any recognized school of thought but selected doctrines from various schools of thought.

noun

  • A person who derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

    ‘Douglas is the king of jazz's current crop of eclectics: He's the kind of guy who shows up at a Jewish wedding with a tango band and proceeds to play Bjork covers.’
    • ‘But they are not just reactionary eclectics; they think they can twist and recombine architectural history in fresh and original ways that would have been unthinkable before modernism wiped the slate clean.’
    • ‘The two strongest objections each approach levels at the other is the claim that eclectics are undisciplined, and that traditionalists are stagnated.’

Origin

Late 17th century (as a term in philosophy): from Greek eklektikos, from eklegein ‘pick out’, from ek ‘out’ + legein ‘choose’.