Classics — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun

Meaning & Definition of Classics

Classics (noun)

  1. a literary work of ancient Greece or Rome
  2. a work of enduring excellence; also, its author
  3. an authoritative source

Classics (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation

    "among women who have devoted themselves to a life of scientific inquiry, Marie Curie is one of the acknowledged classics"

    similar: beau ideals, eidolons, exemplars, ideals, ideas, models, nonesuches, nonpareils, paragons, patron saints
    related: role models, embodiments, epitomes, incarnations, manifestations, personifications, phantoms, pinks, archetypes, examples, mirrors, paradigms, patterns, guidelines, principles, rules, gauges, standards, touchstones, essences, quintessences, acmes, apexes, apotheoses, culminations, peaks, pinnacles, summits, zeniths

  2. something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator's greatest achievement

    "the works of Michelangelo are regarded as classics of the sculptor's art"

    similar: chefs d'oeuvre, magnum opuses, masterpieces, masterworks
    related: masterstrokes, pièces de résistance, showpieces, tours de force, blockbusters, megahits, smashes, successes, winners, gems, jewels, prizes, treasures
    near: bombs, catastrophes, clunkers, debacles, disasters, duds, failures, fiascoes, fizzles, flops, losers, turkeys, washouts

  3. the most perfect type or example

    "his journey of discovery was a classic of arduous effort and fierce determination"

    similar: acmes, apotheoses, beau ideals, bywords, epitomes, exemplars, ideals, perfections, quintessences
    related: archetypes, models, prototypes, paradigms, standards, nonpareils, paragons, abstracts, avatars, embodiers, embodiments, incarnations, incorporations, manifestations, personifications, heights, last words, meridians, ultimates, zeniths, benchmarks, criteria, touchstones, yardsticks

Related Entry: Classic (noun)

Classic is a different word from Classics. The synonyms below are for classic, not for classics.

  1. someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation

    "among women who have devoted themselves to a life of scientific inquiry, Marie Curie is one of the acknowledged classics"

    similar: beau ideal, eidolon, exemplar, idea, ideal, model, nonesuch, nonpareil, paragon, patron saint
    related: role model, embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation, personification, phantom, pink, archetype, example, mirror, paradigm, pattern, guideline, principle, rule, gauge, standard, touchstone, essence, quintessence, acme, apex, apotheosis, culmination, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith

  2. something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator's greatest achievement

    "the works of Michelangelo are regarded as classics of the sculptor's art"

    similar: chef d'oeuvre, magnum opus, masterpiece, masterwork
    related: masterstroke, pièce de résistance, showpiece, tour de force, blockbuster, megahit, smash, success, winner, gem, jewel, prize, treasure
    near: bomb, catastrophe, clunker, debacle, disaster, dud, failure, fiasco, fizzle, flop, loser, turkey, washout

  3. the most perfect type or example

    "his journey of discovery was a classic of arduous effort and fierce determination"

    similar: acme, apotheosis, beau ideal, byword, epitome, exemplar, ideal, perfection, quintessence
    related: archetype, model, prototype, paradigm, standard, nonpareil, paragon, abstract, avatar, embodier, embodiment, incarnation, incorporation, manifestation, personification, height, last word, meridian, ultimate, zenith, benchmark, criterion, touchstone, yardstick

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Classics

The most common words with a similar meaning to Classics:

beau ideals, eidolons, exemplars, ideals, ideas, models, nonesuches, nonpareils, paragons, patron saints, chefs d'oeuvre, magnum opuses, masterpieces, masterworks, acmes, apotheoses, bywords, epitomes, perfections, quintessences

Related Words for Classics

role models, embodiments, incarnations, manifestations, personifications, phantoms, pinks, archetypes, examples, mirrors, paradigms, patterns, guidelines, principles, rules, gauges, standards, touchstones, essences, apexes, culminations, peaks, pinnacles, summits, zeniths, masterstrokes, pièces de résistance, showpieces, tours de force, blockbusters

Near Antonyms of Classics

bombs, catastrophes, clunkers, debacles, disasters, duds, failures, fiascoes, fizzles, flops, losers, turkeys, washouts

Origin & Etymology of Classics

First known use: 1684

Frequently Asked Questions about Classics

What does "Classics" mean?

"Classics" means a literary work of ancient Greece or Rome. As a noun, it is defined as: a literary work of ancient Greece or Rome. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Classics"?

Other words for "Classics" include beau ideals, eidolons, exemplars, ideals, ideas, models, nonesuches and nonpareils. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Classics" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Classics"?

There are 70 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Classics". Common alternatives include beau ideals, eidolons, exemplars, ideals, ideas, models, nonesuches, nonpareils, paragons and patron saints.

How do you use "Classics" in a sentence?

Examples of "Classics" in a sentence: "among women who have devoted themselves to a life of scientific inquiry, Marie Curie is one of the acknowledged classics"; "the works of Michelangelo are regarded as classics of the sculptor's art"; "his journey of discovery was a classic of arduous effort and fierce determination".

Is "Classics" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Classics" is a noun.

What is the origin of the word "Classics"?

First known use: 1684.

What is another word for "Classics" meaning "someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation"?

When "Classics" (noun) means someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation, synonyms include beau ideals, eidolons, exemplars, ideals, ideas and models.

What is another word for "Classics" meaning "something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator's greatest achievement"?

When "Classics" (noun) means something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator's greatest achievement, synonyms include chefs d'oeuvre, magnum opuses, masterpieces and masterworks.