1
a
: serving as a standard of excellence : of recognized value
classic literary works
a classic case study on hysteria
b
: traditional, enduring
classic designs
c
: characterized by simple tailored lines in fashion year after year
a classic suit
2
: of or relating to the ancient Greeks and Romans or their culture : classical
3
a
: historically memorable
a classic battle
b
: noted because of special literary or historical associations
Paris is the classic refuge of expatriates
4
a
: authentic, authoritative
a classic study of eyewitness accounts
b
: typical
a classic example of chicanery
a classic error
5
capitalized
: of or relating to the period of highest development of Mesoamerican and especially Mayan culture about a.d. 300–900
1
: a literary work of ancient Greece or Rome
studied the classics in college
2
a
: a work of enduring excellence
His manual of biology has become a classic among scientists.
also
: its author
He had already become a classic many years before his death.
b
: an authoritative source
3
: a typical or perfect example
His march through the wilderness of Maine has been regarded as a classic of perseverance.
4
: a traditional event
a football classic
Synonyms
Examples of classic in a Sentence
Adjective
She prefers classic furniture designs.
It's a classic suit that won't go out of style.
I like the car's classic contours.
The battle was a classic example of poor planning.
Noun
That car is a classic.
I like to read the classics.
He teaches classics at the local university.
She studied classics in college.
an interest in the classics
The football game is a Thanksgiving classic.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Kessler, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2024
Colors range from classic shades like white and beige to bolder hues like fuchsia and a vibrant purple.
—Amanda McDonald, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2024
The flavors are classic Booker’s, with notes of brown sugar, grain, caramel, molasses, vanilla, and black pepper on the palate.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024
Chick-fil-A’s banana pudding has all the classic ingredients: creamy pudding, vanilla wafers and fresh banana slices.
—Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
This might sound like a classic midlife-crisis move.
—Maggie Mertens, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2024
The actress kept it classic in a blue and white button-down shirt and navy blue button-down skirt.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2024
The revamp instilled modern finishes while maintaining its effortless and classic Caribbean aesthetic.
—Jasmine Grant, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024
Through Saturday, the Popeyes chain is selling its chicken sandwiches (classic, spicy, blackened, or spicy blackened) for $4.20 each.
—Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2024
Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Apr. 2024
In this spin on the beloved childhood classic, any player may refuse to give their opponent the dice after completing their turn.
—Ethan Kuperberg, The New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2024
The album features several wings hits as well as reworks of some Beatles classics.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 23 Apr. 2024
Far from looking dated in an ’80s way, the idea is to revisit classic looks through a brushstroke of color, which in this case is scarlet red.
—Selene Oliva, Glamour, 22 Apr. 2024
As for who might perform, Jones has been the only member of Foreigner’s classic ‘70s and ‘80s lineup for more than 20 years, but original lead singer Lou Gramm and drummer Dennis Elliott have joined the band onstage as recently as 2018, though, so an induction ceremony reunion seems likely.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 22 Apr. 2024
Drawing inspiration from the beloved sloppy joe of yesteryears, Noble Made has crafted a sauce that retains the essence of the beloved classic while incorporating wholesome ingredients and reducing sugar content.
—Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
Photo : Getty/Rolex Idris Elba: Rolex GMT-Master II Idris Elba pulled out a modern twist on a Rolex classic for the Knuckles premiere in London this week.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2024
The cult-like classic also had sequels, including one with scenes filmed in metro Detroit.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 19 Apr. 2024
Adjective
From rocking lime-green gowns adorned with a tennis ball to putting a couture spin on a classic polo top, Zendaya has truly outdone herself on her Challengers press tour wardrobe, thanks to her stylist Law Roach.
—Alex Kessler, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2024
Colors range from classic shades like white and beige to bolder hues like fuchsia and a vibrant purple.
—Amanda McDonald, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2024
The flavors are classic Booker’s, with notes of brown sugar, grain, caramel, molasses, vanilla, and black pepper on the palate.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024
Chick-fil-A’s banana pudding has all the classic ingredients: creamy pudding, vanilla wafers and fresh banana slices.
—Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
This might sound like a classic midlife-crisis move.
—Maggie Mertens, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2024
The actress kept it classic in a blue and white button-down shirt and navy blue button-down skirt.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2024
The revamp instilled modern finishes while maintaining its effortless and classic Caribbean aesthetic.
—Jasmine Grant, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024
Through Saturday, the Popeyes chain is selling its chicken sandwiches (classic, spicy, blackened, or spicy blackened) for $4.20 each.
—Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2024
Noun
Related Stories Election will turn 25 this year, and the pitch-perfect classic from Payne, who brought audiences last year’s Oscar winner The Holdovers, still feels as fresh as ever in its satire of the quotidian back-stabbing and string-pulling that comes with politics at any level.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Apr. 2024
In this spin on the beloved childhood classic, any player may refuse to give their opponent the dice after completing their turn.
—Ethan Kuperberg, The New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2024
The album features several wings hits as well as reworks of some Beatles classics.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 23 Apr. 2024
Far from looking dated in an ’80s way, the idea is to revisit classic looks through a brushstroke of color, which in this case is scarlet red.
—Selene Oliva, Glamour, 22 Apr. 2024
As for who might perform, Jones has been the only member of Foreigner’s classic ‘70s and ‘80s lineup for more than 20 years, but original lead singer Lou Gramm and drummer Dennis Elliott have joined the band onstage as recently as 2018, though, so an induction ceremony reunion seems likely.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 22 Apr. 2024
Drawing inspiration from the beloved sloppy joe of yesteryears, Noble Made has crafted a sauce that retains the essence of the beloved classic while incorporating wholesome ingredients and reducing sugar content.
—Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
Photo : Getty/Rolex Idris Elba: Rolex GMT-Master II Idris Elba pulled out a modern twist on a Rolex classic for the Knuckles premiere in London this week.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2024
The cult-like classic also had sequels, including one with scenes filmed in metro Detroit.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 19 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'classic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near classic
Cite this Entry
“Classic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/classic. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
classic
1 of 2 adjective
clas·sic
ˈklas-ik 
1
a
: serving as a standard of excellence
a classic literature
b
: fashionable year after year : traditional, enduring
a classic design
2
: of or relating to the ancient Greeks or Romans or their culture
3
a
: notable as the best of its kind
a classic film
b
: notable as the most basic or typical of its kind
a classic example
classic
2 of 2 noun1
: a literary work of ancient Greece or Rome
2
: a great work of art
also
: its author
3
: something regarded as perfect of its kind
4
: an event that has become a tradition
a football classic
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