# eclectic

/ɪˈkɫɛktɪk/ (US) · /ɪklˈɛktɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/eclectic
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. diverse sources

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

choosing or including the best parts from many different styles or ideas.

For teachers: deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources. Often carries a positive connotation of being curated or sophisticated.

- The restaurant has an eclectic menu that features food from five different countries.
- Her eclectic taste in literature was evident from the bookshelves, which held everything from ancient Greek philosophy to modern science fiction.

Usage: Typically used to describe collections, tastes, or styles rather than people's physical characteristics.

### 2. philosophical method

adjective · CEFR C2 · Academic · Formal

in philosophy, choosing the best parts of different systems instead of following only one.

For teachers: relating to a method of thought that does not follow any one system, but selects from various systems what are considered the best elements.

- The professor took an eclectic approach to the problem, using both science and history.
- The architect’s eclectic style drew heavily from both Gothic revival and modernist principles, creating a unique structural dialogue.

Usage: Often appears in academic contexts regarding theory or methodology.

### 3. a person

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a person who uses many different styles or ideas.

For teachers: a person who derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

- As an eclectic, he refused to join any single political party.
- He was a true eclectic, surrounding himself with art and music from every continent and era.

## Examples

- She has an eclectic taste in music.
- The restaurant's menu is eclectic, offering everything from traditional Italian pasta to spicy Thai curries.
- The architect's eclectic approach combined brutalist concrete structures with delicate Victorian ironwork, creating a building that defied easy classification into any single historical movement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.