anthology

noun

an·​thol·​o·​gy an-ˈthä-lə-jē How to pronounce anthology (audio)
plural anthologies
Synonyms of anthology
1
: a collection of selected literary pieces or passages or works of art or music
an anthology of American poetry
2
: assortment
… an anthology of threadbare clichés of … bistro cuisine …—Jay Jacobs
anthological
ˌan(t)-thə-ˈlä-ji-kəl How to pronounce anthology (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of anthology

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Examples of anthology in a Sentence

an anthology of American poetry The band will be releasing an anthology of their earlier albums.
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That even included Jessica Lange, who hadn’t starred on his and Brad Falchuk’s hit horror anthology in a series regular role since season four’s Freak Show. — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026 Thus far, her ‘Born In Blood Mafia Chronicles’ comprises eight novels and an anthology. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026 She’s also acted in and written for the zombie horror anthology Virus of the Dead. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026 First Jeffrey Dahmer, then the Menendez Brothers, then Ed Gein, and now Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology drama tackles Lizzie Borden. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for anthology

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French & New Latin; French anthologie, going back to Middle French, borrowed from New Latin anthologia, borrowed from Greek anthología "gathering of flowers," from anthológos "flower-gathering" (from antho- antho- + -logos, nominal ablaut derivative of légein "to gather, collect") + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at legend

Note: The sense "collection of extracts" is found earlier in the parallel formation anthológion, attested in Byzantine Greek.

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of anthology was in 1624

Rhymes for anthology

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Browse Nearby Words

anthologize
anthology
antholysis
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Cite this Entry

“Anthology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthology. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

anthology

noun
an·​thol·​o·​gy an-ˈthäl-ə-jē How to pronounce anthology (audio)
plural anthologies
: a collection of literary pieces
anthologist
-jəst
noun

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