assortment
uh-SORT-munt
/əˈsɔːrt.mənt/
A collection or group of various items or kinds.
Focuses on variety and diversity within a single gathered set.
The story behind the word. Derived from Old French 'assortir' (to group into lots), coming from Latin 'sors' meaning lot or share. To assort was originally to organize items into distinct groups or lots according to kind.
Word relationships
- variety: Variety emphasizes the state of being diverse, while assortment refers to the actual collection of diverse things.
- selection: Selection highlights items chosen deliberately from a larger pool.
- homogeneity: Homogeneity means uniform composition with no variety.
Commonly confused with
- array: An array often implies an orderly, impressive visual layout, whereas assortment highlights diversity of types.
Word family
- assort (verb): To classify or group into categories.
- assorted (adjective): Consisting of various kinds mixed together.
Collocations
- wide assortment
- varied assortment
- assortment of cheeses
- eclectic assortment
Example sentences
- "The pastry chef prepared an attractive assortment of tartlets and macarons." Food and dining
- "The gift shop carries an assortment of handmade local crafts." General merchandise
Memory hook
SORTing items into a group gives you an asSORTment. Sorted into a varied set.
When not to use
Do not use for a group composed entirely of identical items.
Fun facts
- In business retail, 'assortment planning' is a specialized term for determining which product mix to display on store shelves.
Related words
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