antiquity
gb/æntˈɪkwəti/ us/æntˈɪkwəti/
C1
English
~ 5200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
entity
1
the ancient past, before the Middle Ages
A very old time in history, especially before the Middle Ages, when the ancient Greeks and Romans lived.
Usage pattern:
[something] in antiquity
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *antiquity* to mean just 'old times' in general, even for recent centuries. In normal English, *antiquity* almost always refers to very early history, usually before the Middle Ages, and often to Greek and Roman times.
Synonyms
ancient times (More informal and everyday; less often used in academic writing.)
|
the ancient world (Emphasizes the people and civilizations of that time rather than the time period itself.)
Antonyms
modern times (Refers to the recent historical period, contrasting with the distant past of antiquity.)
|
the present (Focuses on current time, in direct contrast to long-past antiquity.)
Collocations
in antiquity
|since antiquity
|from antiquity to today
|classical antiquity
|late antiquity
|of late antiquity
Themes
history
|culture
|education
|time
Examples
- Many cities of antiquity were built without any modern planning tools.
- In antiquity, people explained natural disasters through stories about the gods.
- The museum’s new exhibition explores trade routes across the Mediterranean in late antiquity.
- Scholars of classical antiquity study both Greek and Roman literature.
- Laws about citizenship can be traced back to legal codes from antiquity.
Learner examples
- People in antiquity did not have electricity.
- In antiquity, many stories were told by word of mouth.
- The book is about life in Roman antiquity.
- We can learn about antiquity from old books and objects.
- Travel was slow and dangerous in antiquity.
Noun
formal
C2
state
2
the state of being very old
The fact that something is very old.
Usage pattern:
the antiquity of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *“it has a lot of antiquity”* to mean it is very old. Natural English usually uses patterns like *“its antiquity”* or *“of great antiquity”*, not *“a lot of antiquity.”*
Synonyms
great age (A more transparent, less formal phrase with similar meaning.)
|
oldness (Very rare in everyday speech; mainly used in explanation, not as a natural choice.)
Antonyms
newness (Highlights that something is recent or newly made, the opposite of having great age.)
|
modernity (Emphasizes being modern and up-to-date, which contrasts with very old age.)
Collocations
of great antiquity
|of considerable antiquity
|the antiquity of the building
|the antiquity of the custom
|its sheer antiquity
Themes
time
|description
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The sheer antiquity of the castle makes it difficult to restore.
- Scholars debate the antiquity of this religious ritual.
- Its antiquity and fine craftsmanship make the chair especially valuable.
- The tree’s great antiquity is clear from its massive trunk.
- They were impressed by the antiquity of the city’s narrow streets and stone bridges.
Learner examples
- The antiquity of the church makes it famous.
- People like the house because of its antiquity and style.
- The village is small but of great antiquity.
- The antiquity of this habit is interesting to historians.
- Its antiquity makes the watch hard to repair.
Noun
formal
C2
entity
3
an object from ancient times
An old object from very early history, often kept in a museum.
Usage pattern:
[someone] collects antiquities
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse *antique* with *antiquity*. *Antique* is usually a relatively old item (for example, 100 years old), while *antiquity* usually refers to things from very early history, such as ancient Greece, Rome, or Egypt, and is often used in the plural *antiquities*.
Synonyms
artifact (Common in archaeology; can refer to objects from any period, not only very ancient times.)
|
relic (Suggests something old and surviving from the past, sometimes with religious or emotional value.)
Antonyms
modern object (A general term for something made recently, the opposite of an ancient object.)
|
contemporary artwork (Emphasizes present-day art, contrasting with very old art objects classed as antiquities.)
Collocations
art and antiquities
|dealer in antiquities
|looted antiquities
|Greek and Roman antiquities
|antiquities market
|collection of antiquities
Themes
history
|art
|travel
|arts_entertainment
|education
Examples
- The gallery specializes in Greek and Roman antiquities.
- Several priceless antiquities were stolen from the museum during the night.
- Authorities are working to curb the illegal trade in looted antiquities.
- He donated his collection of Egyptian antiquities to the university.
- The shop sells reproductions, not genuine antiquities.
Learner examples
- The museum shows many antiquities from Egypt.
- Police found antiquities that were taken from a tomb.
- She studies old coins and other antiquities.
- Tourists can see Roman antiquities in this city.
- They bought a small antiquity in the market.
Grammar
Dictionary form
antiquity
IPA
GB/æntˈɪkwəti/
US/æntˈɪkwəti/
Syllables & stress
an - tiquity (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tiquity)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: antiquity
- Plural: antiquities, antiquity
Word family
Forms
antiquities
noun
Core family
antique
adjective B1
Related words
antiquated
adjective C1
Advanced or less common
antiquarian
adjective
Expressions
classical antiquity
1/klˈæsɪkəl æntˈɪkwəti/
fixed phrase
formal
ancient Greek and Roman period
The time in history when ancient Greece and Rome were powerful and important, and their art and ideas were created.
Examples
- She specializes in the art of classical antiquity.
- Many political ideas can be traced back to classical antiquity.
- The course offers an introduction to classical antiquity and its literature.
from antiquity
1/fɹˈʌm æntˈɪkwəti/
fixed phrase
formal
originating in ancient times
Starting in very early history.
Examples
- Many modern languages contain words that come from antiquity.
- These myths from antiquity still influence popular culture.
- The festival has roots from antiquity, though it has changed over time.
in antiquity
1/ˈɪn æntˈɪkwəti/
fixed phrase
formal
during ancient times
At a very early time in history, especially before the Middle Ages.
Examples
- In antiquity, doctors had very limited tools to treat illness.
- Women in antiquity played important roles that are often overlooked.
- These stories were first told in antiquity and passed down for centuries.
of great antiquity
1/əv ɡɹˈeɪt æntˈɪkwəti/
fixed phrase
formal
having very great age
Very old; existing for a very long time.
Examples
- The temple is of great antiquity and attracts many visitors.
- They discovered a tradition of great antiquity in the region.
- The manuscript is of great antiquity and must be handled with care.
since antiquity
1/sˈɪns æntˈɪkwəti/
fixed phrase
formal
from ancient times until today
From very early history up to the present time.
Examples
- People have used olive oil in cooking since antiquity.
- The city has been an important trading center since antiquity.
- This route has connected the two regions since antiquity.