antiquity

noun

an·tiq·ui·ty | \ an-ˈti-kwə-tē

plural antiquities

Definition of antiquity

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 & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about antiquity

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Synonyms & Antonyms for antiquity

Synonyms

age, agedness, ancientness, hoariness

Antonyms

newness

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 house is a labyrinth of small rooms filled with his collections of ancient antiquities and British art. — Emily Selter, Town & Country, "London Travel Guide: The Best Things to Do, See, Eat, and More," 7 Aug. 2018 According to Resina, the changing imperial rule over Catalonia during late antiquity and the early Middle Ages underscores the current distinctness that Catalans feel from the rest of Spain. — Kate Keller, Smithsonian, "Beyond the Headlines, Catalan Culture Has a Long History of Vibrancy and Staying Power," 25 June 2018 Maamoun Abdul-Karim, who until recently was Syria's director-general of antiquities and museums, has publicly urged the Turks to verify the manuscripts' authenticity. — Bassem Mroue, Fox News, "Jewish artifacts disappear from Damascus in fog of Syria war," 17 June 2018 Although rediscovered only in 2013 near the town of Pamukkale — famous for its surreal, Unesco-designate travertine hot spring terraces — the cave’s existence has been known since antiquity as part of what was then Hierapolis. — Time, "Animals Dropped Dead Inside Roman 'Gate to Hell.' Scientists Just Figured Out Why," 22 Feb. 2018 The legal conflict stems from a 1939 Italian law that says Italy owns any antiquity discovered on its territory and that any ancient work to be shipped out of the country requires a government export license. — New York Times, "Italian Court Says the Getty’s Prized Ancient Bronze Should Be Seized," 13 June 2018 Author of The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Suetonius was antiquity's Michael Wolff: a gossipy and glib chronicler of fear and loathing in imperial Rome. — chicagotribune.com, "Mattis is an ancient Roman action hero," 29 Mar. 2018 Some of her other decorative flourishes didn’t fare as well: One of the first things Brito e Abreu did was declutter, eliminating Constantina’s velvet curtains, throne-like leather chairs, and some of her larger religious antiquities. — Gisela Williams, ELLE Decor, "A Portuguese Family Manor is Transformed Into a Heritage-Rich Island Getaway," 17 Sep. 2018 Donoghue said the case dates back to 2010 when Hobby Lobby president Steve Green and a consultant traveled to the United Arab Emirates to inspect antiquities being offered for sale. — John Bacon, USA TODAY, "Antiquities forfeited by Hobby Lobby returned to Iraq," 3 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'antiquity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.