classics
Britishplural noun
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a body of literature regarded as great or lasting, esp that of ancient Greece or Rome
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the ancient Greek and Latin languages
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(functioning as singular) ancient Greek and Roman culture considered as a subject for academic study
Explanation
In awe of Zeus, Antigone, and Hercules? Spend your days debating the philosophy of Plato and Cicero? Then you are a lover of the classics — the literary works of Ancient Greece or Rome. Some people choose to major in French, math or biology. Others take classes in the classics, since they are crazy for learning about the roots of western civilization. The classics include Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, poetry, theater, epic tales, and mythology. Much like a movie that is considered classic, because it can be appreciated over time, the classics of Ancient Greece and Rome have been appreciated ever since — well, ever since the days of Ancient Greece and Rome. Notice that the word the often comes before classics.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Today, you can find exhaustive lists of Asian martial arts classics that are either sampled on their albums or referenced within their lyrics.
From Salon • May 31, 2026
In 2015, researchers developed an AI agent capable of independently learning and mastering Atari classics such as “Pong” and “Breakout.”
From MarketWatch • May 23, 2026
“Hope” brings to mind several genre classics, from “Jaws” and John Carpenter movies like “The Thing,” to something more homegrown such as Bong Joon Ho’s “The Host.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026
Along with the classics, the shop also offers bagels imbued with ingredients like saffron, Korean gochujang and miso.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026
She read everything she could find: trash, classics, time tables and the grocer’s price list.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
