attic

1 of 3

noun (1)

at·​tic ˈa-tik How to pronounce attic (audio)
Synonyms of attic
1
: a low story or wall above the main order of a facade in the classical styles
2
: a room behind an attic
3
: a room or a space immediately below the roof of a building : garret
4
: something resembling an attic (as in being used for storage)

Attic

2 of 3

adjective

At·​tic ˈa-tik How to pronounce Attic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of Athens or its ancient civilization
2
: marked by simplicity, purity, and refinement
an Attic prose style

Attic

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a dialect of ancient Greek originally used in Attica and later the literary language of the Greek-speaking world

Synonyms of attic

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Noun (1)

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Examples of attic in a Sentence

Noun (1) rented the attic out to a college student
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.
Noun
In 2009, decades after Price’s death, Omordia said that a collection of the composer’s manuscripts were discovered in the attic of her former summer home in Illinois, including unknown works. — Megan Fitzgerald, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026 At Addams' colonial-style childhood home, a historic marker says his grandmother lived in the attic and is believed to be the inspiration for the fictional Grandmama Addams. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 Alternatively, scour relatives’ attics and basements for a fixture with some family history. — Amanda Sims, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2026 One level above, the finished attic provides a fourth bedroom and additional flexible living space. — Lauryn Azu, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for attic

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French attique, from attique of Attica, from Latin Atticus

Adjective

Latin Atticus of Attica, from Greek Attikos, from Attikē Attica, Greece

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of attic was in 1577

Phrases Containing attic

Rhymes for attic

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Cite this Entry

“Attic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attic. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

attic

1 of 2 noun
at·​tic ˈat-ik How to pronounce attic (audio)
: a room or a space just below the roof of a building

Attic

2 of 2 adjective
At·​tic
ˈat-ik
: of or relating to Athens
Etymology

Noun

from French attique "attic," from attique (an adjective) "of Attica," from Latin Atticus "of Attica"

Word Origin
In ancient Greece the region around Athens was known as Attica, and many of the buildings in Attica had a special feature of a second wall that extended above the top of the main wall or row of columns supporting the roof. When builders in Europe later copied this feature of Attica's buildings, their buildings were said to be in the style of Attica, or the Attic style. Eventually, the word attic came to be used as a noun to refer to this upper wall and later to a room behind the wall under the roof. Today we refer to any room just underneath the roof as the attic, even when the building is not in the style of those in ancient Attica.

Medical Definition

attic

noun
at·​tic ˈat-ik How to pronounce attic (audio)
: the small upper space of the middle ear

called also epitympanic recess

More from Merriam-Webster on attic

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about attic

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