ECLECTIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does eclectic mean? 

• ECLECTIC (noun)
  The noun ECLECTIC has 1 sense:

1. someone who selects according to the eclectic method

  Familiarity information: ECLECTIC used as a noun is very rare.

• ECLECTIC (adjective)
  The adjective ECLECTIC has 1 sense:

1. selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas

  Familiarity information: ECLECTIC used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ECLECTIC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Someone who selects according to the eclectic method

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

eclectic; eclecticist

Hypernyms ("eclectic" is a kind of...):

philosopher (a specialist in philosophy)

• ECLECTIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas

Similar:

discriminating (showing or indicating careful judgment and discernment especially in matters of taste)

Derivation:

eclecticism (making decisions on the basis of what seems best instead of following some single doctrine or style)

 Context examples 

This is not necessarily because these deficiencies represent needles in a haystack, but because in a new and creative and perhaps eclectic intellectual product, any one of these opportunities for improvement may stand out only to someone with a particular expertise and/or history of experience.

(Peer Review, NCI Thesaurus)