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
Meanwhile, the local government lacks the resources to step in; the antiquities authority itself has no financial allocations or operational budget in a country devastated by over a decade of war.
—
Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
Fifty priceless artifacts looted from Egypt and Pakistan — and trafficked through Manhattan by two notorious antiquities dealers — have been returned to their home countries, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has announced.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 2 June 2025
After the artifact falls onto the black market, a shy waitress with big dreams (Sweeney) teams up with a lovelorn military veteran (Walter Hauser) to gain possession of it, putting them in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal working on behalf of a Western antiquities dealer.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 May 2025
The pieces were recovered in New York City in coordination between Egypt's consulate, the New York District Attorney's Office and American security agencies, the Egyptian antiquities ministry said in a press release.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for antiquity
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Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
Fifty priceless artifacts looted from Egypt and Pakistan — and trafficked through Manhattan by two notorious antiquities dealers — have been returned to their home countries, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has announced.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 2 June 2025
After the artifact falls onto the black market, a shy waitress with big dreams (Sweeney) teams up with a lovelorn military veteran (Walter Hauser) to gain possession of it, putting them in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal working on behalf of a Western antiquities dealer.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 May 2025
The pieces were recovered in New York City in coordination between Egypt's consulate, the New York District Attorney's Office and American security agencies, the Egyptian antiquities ministry said in a press release.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 13 May 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 18 Jul. 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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