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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Evidence for the antiquity of the country came in the early 1820s, when America’s first professional geologists found trilobites spilling out of the banks of the new Erie Canal. Caroline Winterer / Made By History, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025 Questers is an international organization that fosters an appreciation for antiques and collectibles and encourages preservation of antiquities and historical sites. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025 Derived from buildings of Roman and Greek antiquity, Classical Revival houses include Greek Revival and Roman Revival styles and draw on common elements such as columns, pediments, and a strong sense of rigor and balance. Lauren Gallow, Architectural Digest, 10 Jan. 2025 Somehow the site’s breathtaking antiquity had, all this time, succeeded in blinding me to its host country’s youth, its essential fragility. Youmna Melhem Chamieh, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for antiquity 

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 22 Jan. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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