What does "eclectic" mean?
Someone who selects according to the eclectic method.
Eclectic
/ɛkˈlɛk.tɪk/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Someone who selects according to the eclectic method.
- Grammar: eclectic is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: adherent, adoptive, amalgamated, ambiguous.
- Useful contrasts: exclusive, homogeneous, orthodox.
- Usage evidence: Her eclectic taste was evident from the unusual decor of the room.
How to use "eclectic"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "eclectic" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "eclectic" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "eclectic" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "eclectic" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "eclectic" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adherent" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "eclectic", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Someone who selects according to the eclectic method.
"Neo-Pagans are eclectics, often borrowing from a variety of cultural traditions as they try to shape their religious organizations and practices to meet group and individual needs."
- 2 someone who selects according to the eclectic method wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Selecting a mixture of what appears to be best of various doctrines, methods or styles.
"Chunder Sen and the Progressive Brahmists broke entirely with Hinduism...and he selected from the scriptures of all creeds what seemed best in them for instruction and for worship. […] It is an eclectic religion: it seeks to select what is good from all religions, and it has become the latest evidence that no eclectic religion can ever influence large numbers of men."
- 2 Unrelated and unspecialized; heterogeneous.
"All members of the Hominoidea, apes and man, show an eclectic taste in food but select, from a wide range of possibilities, only a few to provide the bulk of their diet."
Adjective
- 1 selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Her eclectic taste was evident from the unusual decor of the room."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "eclectic"?
Common synonyms include: adherent, adoptive, amalgamated, ambiguous, ambivalent, amphibious.
How do you use "eclectic" in a sentence?
Her eclectic taste was evident from the unusual decor of the room.
How do you pronounce "eclectic"?
Pronounced /ɛkˈlɛk.tɪk/.
Etymology
From French éclectique, from Ancient Greek ἐκλεκτικός (eklektikós, “selective”), from ἐκλέγω (eklégō, “I pick, choose”), from ἐκ (ek, “out, from”) + λέγω (légō, “I choose, count”). Cognate to elect.