What does antique mean?
An antique is an object — most commonly a piece of furniture, a work of art, or a decorative item — that is prized because of its considerable age, typically a hundred years or more in trade contexts. The word also functions as an adjective describing anything old-fashioned or dating from an earlier era, and less commonly as a verb meaning to browse for or collect such objects. Antiques carry strong connotations of craftsmanship, rarity, and historical value, which sets them apart from ordinary second-hand goods: a worn chair is simply used, but a two-hundred-year-old chair may be an antique worth a great deal. The word derives from Latin 'antiquus', meaning old or ancient, via French, and shares its roots with 'antiquity' and 'antiquarian'. Collecting antiques is a popular pursuit worldwide, supported by dedicated shops, fairs, and appraisal experts who authenticate age and provenance.
A collectible object, such as a piece of furniture or a work of art, that has high value because of its considerable age.
"The auction house sold the antique clock for a remarkable sum."
In trade and legal contexts, an object generally must be at least 100 years old to qualify as an antique.
Belonging to, made in, or imitative of an earlier period; old rather than modern.
"The room was furnished with antique brass lamps and dark oak panelling."
To shop for or collect antiques.
"While on holiday in Vermont, they spent a whole day antiquing."
Most often encountered as the gerund 'antiquing'; chiefly North American usage.
Standard plural, used when referring to multiple antique objects collectively.
"The estate sale featured dozens of antiques spanning three centuries."
In the antiques trade, 'antique' often has a technical cutoff: many dealers only classify items as true antiques if they are at least 100 years old.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of antique
Antique comes from the Latin 'antiquus', meaning ancient or old, which passed into Old French as 'antique' before entering English in the early 16th century. It shares its Latin root with 'antiquity', 'antiquarian', and 'antic', the latter having drifted in meaning toward the grotesque or playful. The related Italian form gave rise to the artistic sense of 'antique' referring to classical Greco-Roman art.
How antique is actually used
The verb form is relatively informal and is more common in American English, usually appearing as the gerund 'antiquing' to describe browsing for antiques. As an adjective, 'antique' carries connotations of value and quality, distinguishing it from merely 'old' or 'second-hand'. In trade contexts, some jurisdictions define an antique as being at least 100 years old.
Easily confused with antique
Antic means playfully eccentric or grotesque in behavior, while antique refers to something old and valuable.