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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Film Lab Africa, the British Council’s film and TV accelerator programme in Nigeria, hosted a preview screening of TABOO, a new seven-part Nigerian anthology series, during the London Film Festival. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026 Along with being a longtime fan of Stine, Van Houdt had previously worked at SyFy, where he was introduced to Front Street Pictures, the production company behind the 2010 anthology series The Haunting Hour. — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 18 Oct. 2026 An anthology of new plays by female-identifying writers, Women+ on the Edge of Democracy was commissioned by the Flynn—a center for performing arts in Burlington, Vermont—in partnership with the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. — Carey Purcell, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2026 The duo will headline the next installment of the HBO anthology series, which is set to begin production in 2027. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 16 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 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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