analects: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “analects” mean?
A collection of short literary or philosophical extracts or passages, especially from the writings of a classical author.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A collection of short literary or philosophical extracts or passages, especially from the writings of a classical author.
The term is most famously applied to the "Analects of Confucius," a collection of sayings and ideas attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius and his contemporaries. More broadly, it can refer to any compiled anthology of selected writings or fragments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Connotes erudition, classical scholarship, and antiquity in both dialects.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both British and American everyday English, confined almost entirely to academic and historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “analects” in a Sentence
The [Author's] Analectsa collection of analectsVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in philosophy, religious studies, sinology, and classical literature to refer to specific compiled texts, especially the Analects of Confucius.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
A technical term in philology and the study of classical texts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “analects”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “analects”
- Using it as a singular noun (e.g., 'an analect' is extremely rare).
- Using it to refer to modern collections of quotes.
- Mispronouncing it with stress on the second syllable (e.g., /əˈnæləkts/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a plural noun. While the singular 'analect' exists, it is exceedingly rare. The word is almost always used in the plural form 'analects'.
The most famous and primary referent is the 'Analects of Confucius' (also called the 'Lunyu'), a collection of sayings and conversations attributed to Confucius and his disciples.
It is not standard. Using it for a modern collection would sound archaic or pretentious. Use 'anthology,' 'compilation,' or 'collection' instead.
No, it has a very low frequency. It is a specialized academic term familiar to students of philosophy, religion, and classical literature, particularly East Asian studies.
A collection of short literary or philosophical extracts or passages, especially from the writings of a classical author.
Analects is usually formal, academic in register.
Analects: in British English it is pronounced /ˈænəlekts/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈænəˌlekts/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ANALyze the seLECTed writings. Analects are SELECTed passages you ANALyze.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A COLLECTION OF GEMS (analects are gathered precious thoughts).
Practice
Quiz
What does the term 'analects' specifically refer to?