plural antiquities
Synonyms of antiquity
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.
The collection is the only large-scale library known to have survived from classical antiquity. Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 And so the Pioneer Saloon thrives as an antiquity with a pulse — and by serving up quarter-pound Poltergeist Burgers (the place is ostensibly haunted, see). Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2026 Hit history doc-series Apocalypse is heading to antiquity for its next installment with a focus on the Battle of Actium which laid the foundations for the birth of the Roman Empire. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 June 2026 The German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, desperate to connect with the grandeur of antiquity and left bitterly disappointed by his visit to Rome, eventually arrived in this once-vibrant center of the extended Greek empire. Literary Hub, 11 June 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Antiquity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antiquity. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

antiquity

noun
plural antiquities
1
: ancient times
especially : those before the Middle Ages
2
: very great age
3
plural : objects or monuments from ancient times

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