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• attic
  attic

  noun

  the part of a building, especially of a house, directly under a roof; garret.
• Attic
  Attic

  adjective

  of, relating to, or characteristic of Greece or of Athens.

attic

¹ American  

[at-ik] / ˈæt ɪk /

noun

• attics
  plural

1. the part of a building, especially of a house, directly under a roof; garret.

2. a room or rooms in an attic.

3. a low story or decorative wall above an entablature or the main cornice of a building.

4. Anatomy. the upper part of the tympanic cavity of the ear.

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Attic ² American  

[at-ik] / ˈæt ɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Greece or of Athens.

2. (often lowercase) displaying simple elegance, incisive intelligence, and delicate wit.

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noun

1. the dialect of ancient Attica that became the standard language of Classical Greek literature in the 5th and 4th centuries b.c.

Attic ¹ British  

/ ˈætɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to Attica, its inhabitants, or the dialect of Greek spoken there, esp in classical times

2. (often not capital) classically elegant, simple, or pure

   an Attic style

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noun

1. the dialect of Ancient Greek spoken and written in Athens: the chief literary dialect of classical Greek See also Aeolic Arcadic Doric Ionic

attic ² British  

/ ˈætɪk /

noun

1. a space or room within the roof of a house

2. architect a storey or low wall above the cornice of a classical façade

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• non-Attic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• attics
  plural

Etymology

Origin of attic¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; special use of Attic

Origin of Attic²

1555–65; < Latin Atticus < Greek Attikós

Explanation

An attic is an unfinished room at the very top of a house, just below the roof. It’s often the setting for creepy stories because it’s a room people don’t go in very often. A finished attic is extra space you can use for a playroom, bedroom, or storage area. In fiction, it’s a great place to stash crazy people. In Charlotte Bronte’s book Jane Eyre, there’s a madwoman in the attic. Some attics don't even have floors that can be walked on, though — they're just empty space at the top of a house. An attic was originally called an attic storey, from the architectural term Attic order.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

attic Attic attics

Decluttering an attic is not just an emotional project.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

It started while I was helping my son search the attic for his life jacket.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

But managing a major artist’s estate isn’t as simple as selling off the dusty contents of a parent’s attic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

Brown was arrested after being found sleeping in his stepmother's attic.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

I do hope Willa is staying in the attic.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

“Classical Body,” which pairs Attic vases and flasks with a series of fluted Grecian gowns elevated above—super-model goddesses in pale gold—sets the aspirational yet unforgiving female physical ideal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026

The charity runs three stores: The Pantry, The Attic and The Toy Chest, which opened earlier this year.

From BBC ● Nov. 24, 2025

“Everyone is long on Ohtani, no one is short,” said Michael Osacky, president of Baseball in the Attic and lead appraiser for PSA, the world’s biggest third-party grader for sports collectors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2024

Attic insulation may be low on your list of glamorous home improvements.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 13, 2023

I’m wearing a Missoni top over a dress I snagged at Attic in East Nashville.

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner

Larger homes, attics, basements, garages and spare bedrooms reduce the urgency to make choices.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

Homeowners say their builders have made mistakes as they attempt to put up homes as quickly and cheaply as possible, installing improperly sized HVACs, putting in windows incorrectly, or poorly ventilating attics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

The reel was shrunken through age and frayed, but otherwise in remarkable condition for something stashed in sun-heated attics for years.

From Barron's ● Apr. 13, 2026

"Most of the species that are vulnerable to this disease migrate away from those habitats in spring to give birth in trees or in human structures such as barns or attics," Johnson said.

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2024

She could even hear, with her new awareness of the house, the dust drifting gently in the attics, the wood aging.

From "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson