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.
In 2019, the Louvre in Paris removed the Sackler name from its oriental antiquities wing, while Manhattan’s Metropolitan Museum of Art also dropped the name a year later. George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 6 Nov. 2024 Things to Come was directed by legendary production designer William Cameron Menzies, who later designed the burning of Atlanta in Gone with the Wind and clearly influenced Coppola’s skyscraper imagery and his bewildering mix of futurism and antiquity. Armond White, National Review, 9 Oct. 2024 Dating back to classical antiquity, the idea that a soothsayer can tell something about a person’s health, disposition, or destiny from the lines on their palm has long fascinated seers and scientists alike. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2024 Most international visitors are blown away by Caral’s atmosphere of antiquity, the engineering of the pyramids, and the views, says Otto Abad, who founded Peruna Tours in 2019, which specializes in Caral day trips from Lima. Elissa Garay, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2024 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 3 Dec. 2024.

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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