antiquity

noun

an·​tiq·​ui·​ty an-ˈti-kwə-tē How to pronounce antiquity (audio)
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 Each spring, the Jewish holiday known as Passover is celebrated by millions worldwide, a day that is steeped in antiquity and is marked by remembrance and tradition for Jewish individuals and communities. Coleby Phillips, The Arizona Republic, 9 Mar. 2024 Watching blooming plum trees, often by moonlight, as a symbol of strength, vitality and end of winter was practiced in China since antiquity. Małgorzata (gosia) K. Citko-Duplantis, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024 The artifacts indicate that a small port existed in the area during late antiquity, officials said. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024 In antiquity, the government was direct in that every person (or more precisely, free adult men) had a duty to participate in the decision-making assembly. Theodore McDarrah, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 It’s organized into galleries of antiquities and American, European, Asian, African, and contemporary art. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 10 Feb. 2024 Questers is an international organization that fosters an appreciation of antiques and collectibles and encourages the restoration of antiquities and historical sites. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2024 The men agreed that the room needed a feel of antiquity, which required a painting process as elaborate as the finished product. Maria L. La Ganga, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 From antiquities to contemporary, galleries to auctions and museums, what defines art market writing is so much more ... Alexandra Bregman, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'antiquity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see antique entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of antiquity was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near antiquity

Cite this Entry

“Antiquity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antiquity. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

antiquity

noun
an·​tiq·​ui·​ty an-ˈtik-wət-ē How to pronounce antiquity (audio)
plural antiquities
1
: ancient times
especially : those before the Middle Ages
2
: very great age
3
plural : objects or monuments from ancient times

More from Merriam-Webster on antiquity

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