Eclectic
(pronounced ih-klek-tik) adjective
Definition
1. composed or made up of elements drawn from various and diverse sources, systems, etc. 2. selecting or deriving from a number of different methods, systems, sources, styles, or doctrines
Main Example
- The panel of 15 jurors selected for the high-profile trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with the murder of George Floyd, is assuredly eclectic, as it ought to be, esp. for a court trial that could be highly consequential. For instance, there are six white women and three white men, three black men and one black woman, and two multiracial women. Age-wise, five are 50+ with the oldest being in her 60s, and of the remaining ten, four are in their 20s.
Workplace Examples
- Have you noticed that Arlene, who will be heading up the development of new products and services, has assembled quite a heterogeneous team? She has men and women of every conceivable background--some with liberal arts majors, others with degrees in things like engineering, biochemistry, computer science...you name it. Very, very eclectic!
- On the question of how to overhaul our capitalist economic system so that it works for ALL Americans, I especially like the eclectic approach of Anand Giridharadas, the well-known thought leader. He says that the new brand of American capitalism ought to be an amalgam of what's worked best for other successful and robust capitalist economies, such as those in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Singapore, and some of the other so-called Asian "tigers."
Other Examples
- talking about one of his playlists on Spotify, this author saying: "I wish I could say there is a theme to it but there isn't. For instance, it comprises a few songs, including Jeri Southern's 'I Thought of You Last Night,' Judy Garland's 'Over the Rainbow,' and Edith Piaf's 'Non, je ne regrette rien'; a few short classical pieces, namely Schumann's 'Traumerei,' Sibelius's 'Finlandia,' and Offenbach's 'Barcarolle'; a few pieces by Vangelis; and finally, some of my favorite German military marches, including 'Yorckscher March' performed by the U.S. Marine Band. So, as you can see, it's pretty eclectic; a hodgepodge."
- an eclectic collection of paintings or books; someone's eclectic library; a college student's eclectic extracurricular pursuits; an investor's eclectic stock portfolio; an assemblage of eclectic short stories
- the eclectic cast in the movie "Knives Out" which has been ranked as one of the top ten films of 2019 by the American Film Institute
- the eclecticism that characterizes the oeuvre of Colson Whitehead, who was recently featured on "60 Minutes" and who is one of only four novelists ever to win the Pulitzer for fiction twice
