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
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
His is one of the few detailed records about pilgrim sites of the Holy Land in late antiquity.
—
Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Even in antiquity, some thinkers embodied this courage.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
That morning, Josephine Carter, a security officer at the Getty Villa, a museum of classical antiquities in a remote part of the Palisades, was posted alone at the back gate.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
However, the area, with its rugged coastline, azure sea glinting in the sunlight, and charming villages built right into the cliffs, has lured elite travelers to its picturesque shores since antiquity.
—Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for antiquity
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Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Even in antiquity, some thinkers embodied this courage.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
That morning, Josephine Carter, a security officer at the Getty Villa, a museum of classical antiquities in a remote part of the Palisades, was posted alone at the back gate.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
However, the area, with its rugged coastline, azure sea glinting in the sunlight, and charming villages built right into the cliffs, has lured elite travelers to its picturesque shores since antiquity.
—Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for antiquity
Cite this Entry
“Antiquity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antiquity. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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