What does vintage mean?
Vintage is a word that originally referred to a particular year’s wine or grape harvest and later broadened to describe objects from a significant earlier period. Today, “vintage” is most common as an adjective for clothing, cars, furniture, records, and other items whose age gives them distinctive character or appeal. It often suggests authenticity and style, although the term can simply identify an item as belonging to a particular year. As a noun, vintage may refer to a specific wine, a harvest, a year, or a collectible object. The word is used in both British and American English and is related to the language of wine-making. “Vintage” is often contrasted with “antique”: vintage usually suggests a recognizable earlier era, while antique tends to emphasize greater age and, commonly, value or collectability.
Characteristic of a particular earlier period, especially an item valued for its style, quality, or historical character.
"The film features vintage fashions and a distinctly old-fashioned sense of adventure."
Often informal and approving, though it can be used neutrally to indicate the year or period of origin.
A particular year’s wine or grape harvest, or an older object from a specified period, especially a collectible car or other item.
"This 1987 Bordeaux is an excellent vintage."
When referring to a year or harvest, the term is especially common in wine contexts.
To classify, present, or treat something as vintage.
"The costume designer vintaged the coat by carefully distressing the fabric."
This use is relatively uncommon and is most often found in informal fashion, design, and collecting contexts.
The plural is used for different years of wine, harvests, or distinct collectible items.
"The cellar contains vintages from several celebrated Bordeaux years."
Vintage began as a term for a year’s wine harvest, long before it became a synonym for stylishly old.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vintage come from?
The word entered English through Old French vintage, meaning wine of a particular year, and is associated with Latin vindemia, a term connected with gathering grapes and making wine. Its deeper elements relate to Latin vinum, “wine,” and demere, “to take,” reflecting the idea of taking or harvesting the grapes. The modern sense of referring to older objects valued for their character developed from the word’s original association with wines identified by their year of production. Its relatives include vintner, vinous, and vineyard, all of which reflect the same older wine-making vocabulary.
Related word forms
How vintage is actually used
As an adjective, vintage is often informal and carries a positive connotation of authenticity, quality, or period charm. It can also be used more neutrally for items from a specified year. As a verb, it is relatively uncommon and is chiefly associated with fashion, design, and collecting.
Easily confused with vintage
Vintage generally refers to an item from a recognizable, often relatively recent period, while antique usually means an older object, often one that is at least a century old.