antiquity

noun

an·​tiq·​ui·​ty an-ˈti-kwə-tē 

plural antiquities

1

: ancient times

especially : those before the Middle Ages

a town that dates from antiquity

2

: the quality of being ancient

a castle of great antiquity

3

antiquities plural

a

: relics or monuments (such as coins, statues, or buildings) of ancient times

a museum of Greek antiquities

b

: matters relating to the life or culture of ancient times

the study of Germanic antiquities

4

: the people of ancient times

records left by antiquity

Synonyms of antiquity

• ancientness
• antiquation
• age
• hoariness

Examples of antiquity in a Sentence

The town dates from antiquity.

A palace stood here in antiquity.

a museum of Roman antiquities

Recent Examples on the Web

To date, the Antiquities Trafficking Unit has recovered more than 6,200 cultural treasures, including rare books, works of art, and antiquities, valued at more than $485 million, and returned more than 5,900 of those to 36 countries. —Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 6 May 2026

Despite chang’s antiquity, Tibetans have their share of teetotalers and prohibitionists. —Geoff Childs, The Conversation, 1 May 2026

But beyond the famous pieces, the museum's nine curatorial departments encompass everything from Egyptian antiquities to decorative art. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026

The setting is green and damp, a little chilly and full of antiquities that toe the line between charming and creepy. —ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see antique entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for antiquity

• iniquity
• obliquity
• ubiquity

Kids Definition

antiquity

noun

an·​tiq·​ui·​ty an-ˈtik-wət-ē 

plural antiquities

1

: ancient times

especially : those before the Middle Ages

2

: very great age

3

plural : objects or monuments from ancient times