classic

adjective

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clas·sic | \ ˈkla-sik

Definition of classic

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

3a : historically memorable a classic battle

b : noted because of special literary or historical associations Paris is the classic refuge of expatriates

4a : 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

classic

noun

Definition of classic (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a literary work of ancient Greece or Rome studied the classics in college

2a : 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 More Example Sentences Learn More About classic

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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: Adjective Ferris Bueller, directed by John Hughes, is a classic 80s-era teen comedy that launched Broderick's career, featuring memorable turns from Jennifer Grey, Mia Sara, Ben Stein and of course, Ruck. — Dan Heching, PEOPLE.com, 14 Oct. 2021 Mina and Yumul had been kicking around the concept of a restaurant that looked at classic dishes from around the globe, made using the most mindful, superfood ingredients possible. — Jenn Harris Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2021 For the walls, Ms. Zaveloff, chose a classic subway style with a gray grout. — Adrienne Gaffney, WSJ, 14 Oct. 2021 Some cereals are classic for a reason, and that includes Post Shredded Wheat ($42 for a 6-pack; amazon.com), arguably the OG of high-fiber cereals, with 8 grams of fiber per serving. — Cat Lafuente, Health.com, 6 Oct. 2021 From hip hop to house, dancers compete to global beats and classic tunes in a quest to see who rules the dance floor. — Holly Baumbach, chicagotribune.com, 24 Sep. 2021 No, this isn't black-and-white—but the color combo here is just as classic. — Michella Oré, Glamour, 23 Sep. 2021 See how Lisa styles the Tabou bag with key Celine pieces, then shop the soon-to-be-classic style below. — Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 23 Sep. 2021 Central to the restaurant’s menu will be classic, warm tortas a la plancha, a homage to Mexico City’s famed torterias. — Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 21 Sep. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun This seven-game classic will be best remembered not for the winner-take-all Game 7, but rather for Game 5, in which Don Larsen spun the first, and still only, perfect game in World Series history. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2021 Whether apple picking with my kids on the weekend or running in the rain to appointments, this classic will get me through it. — Vogue, 25 Aug. 2021 This classic started in the arcades in the 1980s before making the leap to the Nintendo Entertainment System. — Brett Molina, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2021 This Florentine classic has been going strong since 1977 and showcases owner Stefano Bondi's mother's recipes, from Tuscan steak tartares to the dozens of pasta dishes and smorgasboard of meaty mains. — Julia Buckley, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2021 Quite apart from being among the first crossover cowboy shirts, Brycelands’ Westerners have become favorites of mine because they’re cut on a pattern inspired by an archive piece—unlike most modern, watered down takes on this 20th-century classic. — Aleks Cvetkovic, Robb Report, 7 July 2021 Equal parts black iced tea and lemonade, there’s little wrong with this classic – except for the high sugar content. — Katie Chang, Forbes, 23 May 2021 Your choice of stone fruit is fine for this French classic; ditto berries. — Washington Post, 23 Apr. 2021 This Nickelodeon classic has been revived for pretty much every generation, but the most influential version is the one that ran from 1986 to 1993. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2021

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

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Last Updated

17 Oct 2021

Cite this Entry

“Classic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/classic. Accessed 27 Oct. 2021.

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More Definitions for classic

classic

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of classic

(Entry 1 of 2)

—used to say that something has come to be considered one of the best of its kind

—used to say that something is an example of excellence

—used to describe something that has been popular for a long time

classic

noun

English Language Learners Definition of classic (Entry 2 of 2)

: something that has been considered to be excellent for a long time

: the study of the literature, language, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome

: a traditional event

See the full definition for classic in the English Language Learners Dictionary

classic

adjective

clas·sic | \ ˈkla-sik

Kids Definition of classic

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : serving as a model of the best of its kind It's a classic story for children.

2 : fashionable year after year a classic style

3 : of or relating to the ancient Greeks and Romans or their culture classic sculptures

4 : being typical of its kind a classic mistake

classic

noun

Kids Definition of classic (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a written work or author of ancient Greece or Rome

2 : a great work of art a classic of literature

3 : something long regarded as outstanding of its kind a classic car

classic

adjective

clas·sic | \ ˈklas-ik

variants: or classical \ -i-kəl

Medical Definition of classic

: standard or recognized especially because of great frequency or consistency of occurrence the classic triad of urethritis, conjunctivitis, and arthritis signaling Reiter's syndrome — Emergency Medicine