C1 verb Neutral

anthology

/ænˈθɒl.ə.dʒi/

A published collection of poems, short stories, or other pieces of writing, often from different authors. It can also refer to a collection of musical works or films that share a common theme or style.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I bought a short story anthology to read during my commute to work.

I purchased a book containing several short stories to read while traveling to my job.

2

The department has commissioned a definitive anthology of post-war European poetry.

The organization ordered the creation of a complete collection of poems from Europe after the war.

3

That horror anthology series on the streaming platform is definitely worth a watch.

That collection of scary stories shown on the internet TV service is very good.

Word Family

Noun
anthology
Verb
anthologize
Adjective
anthologized
Related
anthologist
💡

Memory Tip

The word comes from the Greek 'anthos' (flower) and 'logia' (collection). Think of an anthology as a 'bouquet of literary flowers' picked from different gardens.

Quick Quiz

The professor recommended a new ________ of contemporary African short stories for our summer reading list.

Correct!

The correct answer is: anthology

Examples

1

I bought a short story anthology to read during my commute to work.

everyday

I purchased a book containing several short stories to read while traveling to my job.

2

The department has commissioned a definitive anthology of post-war European poetry.

formal

The organization ordered the creation of a complete collection of poems from Europe after the war.

3

That horror anthology series on the streaming platform is definitely worth a watch.

informal

That collection of scary stories shown on the internet TV service is very good.

4

The student referred to the Norton Anthology for the primary sources in her thesis.

academic

The student used the famous literature collection to find the original texts for her research paper.

5

Our marketing team is compiling an anthology of success stories from our top clients.

business

Our advertising group is gathering a collection of positive reports from our most important customers.

Word Family

Noun
anthology
Verb
anthologize
Adjective
anthologized
Related
anthologist

Common Collocations

poetry anthology a collection of poems
edited anthology a collection curated by a specific editor
comprehensive anthology a collection that covers a wide range of works
literary anthology a collection of artistic writing
annual anthology a collection published once every year

Common Phrases

anthology series

a TV show where each episode or season has a different story and cast

definitive anthology

the most complete and authoritative collection available

award-winning anthology

a collection of works that has received professional honors

Often Confused With

anthology vs analogy

An analogy is a comparison between two things; an anthology is a collection of writings.

anthology vs archaeology

Archaeology is the study of human history through artifacts, not a book of stories.

📝

Usage Notes

While most commonly used for literature (poems and stories), it is increasingly used for media like television (e.g., 'Black Mirror' is an anthology series) and music (e.g., 'The Beatles Anthology').

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often treat it as an uncountable noun, but it is countable (one anthology, two anthologies). Also, don't confuse it with 'anthologist', which is the person who compiles the book.

💡

Memory Tip

The word comes from the Greek 'anthos' (flower) and 'logia' (collection). Think of an anthology as a 'bouquet of literary flowers' picked from different gardens.

📖

Word Origin

From the Greek word 'anthologia', literally meaning 'a gathering of flowers'.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun Plural: anthologies Usually followed by 'of' + plural noun (e.g., anthology of poems)
🌍

Cultural Context

In the UK and US, 'The Norton Anthology' is a staple of university-level English Literature courses, making the word synonymous with academic study.

Quick Quiz

The professor recommended a new ________ of contemporary African short stories for our summer reading list.

Correct!

The correct answer is: anthology

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