classic

1 of 2

adjective

clas·​sic ˈkla-sik How to pronounce classic (audio)
1
a
: serving as a standard of excellence : of recognized value
classic literary works
a classic case study on hysteria
b
: traditional, enduring
classic designs
c
: characterized by simple tailored lines in fashion year after year
a classic suit
2
: of or relating to the ancient Greeks and Romans or their culture : classical
3
a
: historically memorable
a classic battle
b
: noted because of special literary or historical associations
Paris is the classic refuge of expatriates
4
a
: authentic, authoritative
a classic study of eyewitness accounts
b
: typical
a classic example of chicanery
a classic error
5
capitalized : of or relating to the period of highest development of Mesoamerican and especially Mayan culture about a.d. 300–900

classic

2 of 2

noun

1
: a literary work of ancient Greece or Rome
studied the classics in college
2
a
: a work of enduring excellence
His manual of biology has become a classic among scientists.
also : its author
He had already become a classic many years before his death.
b
: an authoritative source
3
: a typical or perfect example
His march through the wilderness of Maine has been regarded as a classic of perseverance.
4
: a traditional event
a football classic

Examples of classic in a Sentence

Adjective She prefers classic furniture designs. It's a classic suit that won't go out of style. I like the car's classic contours. The battle was a classic example of poor planning. Noun That car is a classic. I like to read the classics. He teaches classics at the local university. She studied classics in college. an interest in the classics The football game is a Thanksgiving classic.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Feadship ‘Olympus’ Picture purchasing a classic 180-foot Feadship superyacht, and then getting a $10 million bill for a major refit. Howard Walker, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2024 Buzz, an electric update of the classic hippie bus, VW is touching on nostalgia to reach a new generation of car buyers. Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024 Her classic neutral makeup look agreed with Sabrina Elba– whose siren eyes needed no makeup at all. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 17 Mar. 2024 Rocket make soaring, anthemic alt-rock with a classic feel, picking up a torch from veteran acts like Dinosaur Jr. (who played SXSW earlier in the week). Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2024 Offer a classic butcher shop selling a full range of fresh meats, aged steaks, trademark sausages, and handcrafted deli meats. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 The classic Shakespeare tale sees Iago, a junior officer, grow jealous about being overlooked for a promotion. Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 Keep it classic with a signature hamburger or cheeseburger, or try one of their unique options like the pizza burger, chili burger or the Sonoran burger. Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 His classic book, Winning Ugly, is a field manual for waging mental warfare on the court. Abby Aguirre, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024
Noun
Broccoli Salad With Curry Vinaigrette While creamy broccoli salads are a classic for a reason, try something different with this dish featuring crisp apples, sweet dates, toasted pumpkin seeds and a flavorful curry vinaigrette. Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024 Their plucky abrasiveness might rub against mainstream sensibilities, but The Gutter — like an early Paul Beatty novel — seems destined to be a cult classic. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2024 Dungeons & Dragons has been a tabletop classic for five decades. Eva Rothenberg, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024 Over the years, the 1991 buddy crime drama Thelma & Louise has become a classic, with praise specifically directed toward Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis’ performances. Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 More:French onion soup is a comfort food classic: Here's Le Suprême's hearty recipe What cut of beef does corned beef come from? Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 15 Mar. 2024 Fresh off the announcement of her new album, Radical Optimism, Dua Lipa gave a classic, lowkey outfit a bit of sporty spice. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 The traditional cell animation is far from the only thing appealing in this new classic. Ew Staff, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2024 We wouldn’t be shocked if the iconic brand’s new Crisps became an instant classic. Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 13 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'classic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French or Latin; French classique, from Latin classicus of the highest class of Roman citizens, of the first rank, from classis — see class entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1684, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of classic was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near classic

Cite this Entry

“Classic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/classic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

classic

1 of 2 adjective
clas·​sic ˈklas-ik How to pronounce classic (audio)
1
a
: serving as a standard of excellence
a classic literature
b
: fashionable year after year : traditional, enduring
a classic design
2
: of or relating to the ancient Greeks or Romans or their culture
3
a
: notable as the best of its kind
a classic film
b
: notable as the most basic or typical of its kind
a classic example

classic

2 of 2 noun
1
: a literary work of ancient Greece or Rome
2
: a great work of art
also : its author
3
: something regarded as perfect of its kind
4
: an event that has become a tradition
a football classic

Medical Definition

classic

adjective
clas·​sic ˈklas-ik How to pronounce classic (audio)
variants or classical
: standard or recognized especially because of great frequency or consistency of occurrence
the classic triad of urethritis, conjunctivitis, and arthritis signaling Reiter's syndromeEmergency Medicine

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