Is assortment the same as selection?

Not exactly. An assortment means a mixed group of different things. A selection often means chosen items, even if they are similar.

Is assortment formal or informal?

It is neutral. You can use it in everyday speech, shopping, and formal writing.

Can I say an assortment of people?

Yes, but it is less common. It usually sounds more natural for things, not people.

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assortment

/əˈsɔːt.mənt/

IELTSAcademic

noun

A mix of different kinds of things collected together. It usually means the items are varied, not all the same.

The shop sells a large assortment of chocolates.
She bought an assortment of snacks for the trip.
The box contained an assortment of old photos.

Adinary Nuance

Assortment is used for a mixed group of things, often when you want to stress variety. It is close to "collection" and "selection," but those words do not always mean the items are different from each other. Use "assortment" when the group feels like several kinds put together, such as foods, tools, or clothes.

In other languages

Vietnamese: sự đa dạng
Spanish: surtido
Chinese: 各式各样
Japanese: 取り合わせ
Korean: 다양한 종류

Etymology

Assortment comes from the verb assort, from French assortir, meaning to put things together of the same kind. It entered English in the 16th century.

Common phrases

an assortment ofa wide assortmenta mixed assortment

Synonyms

variety mix selection collection

Related words

range choice diversity array

Frequently asked questions

Is assortment the same as selection?: Not exactly. An assortment means a mixed group of different things. A selection often means chosen items, even if they are similar.
Is assortment formal or informal?: It is neutral. You can use it in everyday speech, shopping, and formal writing.
Can I say an assortment of people?: Yes, but it is less common. It usually sounds more natural for things, not people.