antique

American  

[an-teek] / ænˈtik /

adjective

1. of or belonging to the past; not modern.

   Synonyms:

   archaic, bygone

2. dating from a period long ago.

   antique furniture.

   Synonyms:

   obsolescent, obsolete, old

3. noting or pertaining to automobiles approximately 25 years old or more.

4. in the tradition, fashion, or style of an earlier period; old-fashioned; antiquated.

5. of or belonging to the ancient Greeks and Romans.

6. (of paper) neither calendered nor coated and having a rough surface.

7. ancient.

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noun

1. any work of art, piece of furniture, decorative object, or the like, created or produced in a former period, or, according to U.S. customs laws, 100 years before date of purchase.

2. the antique style, usually Greek or Roman, especially in art.

3. Printing. a style of type.

verb (used with object)

antiqued, antiquing

1. to make or finish (something, especially furniture) in imitation of antiques.

2. to emboss (an image, design, letters, or the like) on paper or fabric.

verb (used without object)

antiqued, antiquing

1. to shop for or collect antiques.

   She spent her vacation antiquing in Boston.

antique British  

/ ænˈtiːk /

noun

1. 1. a decorative object, piece of furniture, or other work of art created in an earlier period, that is collected and valued for its beauty, workmanship, and age

   2. ( as modifier )

      an antique shop

2. any object made in an earlier period

3. the style of ancient art, esp Greek or Roman art, or an example of it

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adjective

1. made in or in the style of an earlier period

2. of or belonging to the distant past, esp of or in the style of ancient Greece or Rome

3. informal old-fashioned; out-of-date

4. archaic aged or venerable

5. (of paper) not calendered or coated; having a rough surface

verb

1. (tr) to give an antique appearance to

Related Words

See ancient ¹.

Other Word Forms

• antiquely
  adverb
• antiqueness
  noun
• pseudoantique
  adjective
• quasi-antique
  adjective
• subantique
  adjective
• subantiquely
  adverb
• subantiqueness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of antique

1520–30; earlier also anticke (< Middle French antique ) < Latin antīiquus, antīicus in front, existing earler, ancient; cf. antic, posticum

Explanation

An antique is an old-fashioned thing, like a lamp from the sixties. Anything antique is old or at least old-ish. When you see the word antique, you know you're not going to hear about anything new or young. An antique is a nice, old piece of furniture, that's usually been well taken care of and costs more than something new. Shopping for antiques is called antiquing. Outside of antique shops, calling anything antique means it's out-of-date and useless — so if you wanted to be mean, you could call your grandparents antiques.

Example Sentences

Among the pieces available were a vintage chest, tables, and chair, antique mirrors, hand-knotted rugs, a striped fabric tuxedo sofa, upholstered wing back chairs, “lots of fun lamps and chandeliers,” and several leather chairs.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

This year's exhibit juxtaposes elegant fashion looks with paintings and sculpture: think a Saint Laurent design next to Van Gogh's "Irises", or a John Galliano gown for Maison Margiela paired with an antique statue.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

A slightly sweet, oily scent, redolent of old workshops or antique paraffin lamps.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

And last September, surveillance cameras captured him pushing an antique metal safe through the Shasta County elections office on a Saturday while his wife assisted with a pulling harness.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

He found an antique bucksaw of wood and wire that he used to saw the dead trees to length.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

Related Words

• antiquity
• artifact
• heirloom
• relic