What does anthology mean?
An anthology is a curated collection of selected works — most often poems, short stories, essays, or songs — brought together in a single volume, typically by different authors and united by a common theme, genre, period, or purpose. The word derives from Greek roots meaning 'a gathering of flowers,' reflecting the ancient practice of assembling choice poems like blossoms into a garland. Today anthologies appear throughout publishing and education: school readers, prize collections such as The Best American Short Stories, and themed volumes on subjects ranging from love poetry to speculative fiction. The term has also broadened to other media, so that a television show presenting a new story and cast each episode is called an anthology series. To be included in a respected anthology is generally seen as a mark of distinction, since selection implies editorial judgment about quality and significance.
nounA published collection of selected writings, such as poems, short stories, songs, or essays, typically gathered from various authors and often organized around a theme, genre, or period.
- A published collection of literary works (poems, stories, essays) by various authors, usually on a shared theme or within a genre or period.
- By extension, any curated collection of similar items, such as an anthology of films, songs, or comic strips.
"Her poem was included in an anthology of contemporary nature writing."
"The Norton Anthology of English Literature has introduced generations of students to canonical British writers."
"The streaming service released an anthology series in which every episode told a self-contained story with a different cast."
Standard plural; used when referring to multiple collections.
"The library's rare-books room holds several early printed anthologies."
The word 'anthology' literally means 'a garland of flowers' — the ancient Greeks used it to describe collections of poems, each one a blossom picked for the bouquet.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of anthology
Anthology comes from the Greek 'anthologia' (via 'anthologos'), formed from 'anthos' meaning 'flower' and 'legein' meaning 'to gather' — literally 'a gathering of flowers.' Ancient Greek scholars used the term for collections of epigrams, likening each short poem to a flower picked for a garland. The word entered English in the early 17th century, initially applied to collections of epigrams before broadening to cover compilations of literature generally. It shares its Greek roots with related terms such as anthologist and the verb anthologize.
Related word forms
How anthology is actually used
Anthology is a formal-to-neutral word common in academic, publishing, and media contexts. It carries connotations of careful selection and curation rather than mere accumulation — being chosen for an anthology implies recognition of quality. In modern usage it extends beyond print to television ('anthology series'), music, and film.
Easily confused with anthology
An anthology gathers works by multiple contributors around a theme, while an omnibus typically collects several complete works by a single author into one volume.