Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Of the highest quality or standard; serving as a model of its kind: Something that is "classic" is judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its type.
   • Typical; a perfect example of a particular style or type: Used to describe something that has all the typical features or qualities expected of it.
   • Having a simple, traditional style that is not affected by changes in fashion: Often used to describe design, art, or clothing that remains elegant and acceptable over time.

2. Noun:

   • A work of art, literature, music, etc., of recognized and established value: A "classic" is a creation that has achieved a lasting status and is considered excellent and important.
   • An artist, author, or work considered to be of the highest rank or excellence: Refers to the creator or the creation itself.
   • A typical or perfect example of something: Something that serves as a standard model.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • "Pride and Prejudice is a classic novel." (It is a work of the highest, enduring literary quality.)
  • "His reaction was a classic case of panic." (It was a typical, perfect example of panic.)
  • "She wore a classic little black dress." (She wore a simple, elegant dress in a timeless style.)

• Noun:

  • "Many consider Moby-Dick to be an American classic." (It is a book of established, lasting value in American literature.)
  • "The film is now regarded as a Hollywood classic." (The movie is seen as an outstanding, exemplary work from Hollywood.)
  • "The car is a design classic." (The car is a perfect, timeless example of automotive design.)

Advanced Usage

• "a classic example of": a very typical and clear instance of something.
  • "This situation is a classic example of poor communication."
• "classic style": a style characterized by simplicity, elegance, and timelessness, often drawing from ancient Greek or Roman principles.
  • "The building's architecture is in the classic style."
• "classic case": a standard or textbook instance of a situation, often used in analysis.
  • "The patient presented a classic case of the flu."

Variants and Related Words

• Classical (adj): Pertaining to the culture of ancient Greece and Rome, or to serious, traditional music (e.g., classical music, classical studies).
• Classicism (n): The following of ancient Greek or Roman principles and style in art and literature.
• Classicist (n): A scholar or follower of classicism.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Exemplary, model, definitive, archetypal, timeless, vintage.
• Noun: Masterpiece, masterwork, exemplar, paradigm.

Related Phrases

• "Classic rock": A radio format or category for rock music from the late 1960s to 1980s, considered to be of lasting quality.
• "Classic literature": Works of fiction that are considered to have significant and enduring artistic merit.

Idioms

• "A classic mistake": A very typical and fundamental error that many people make.
  • "Forgetting to save your work is a classic mistake."
• "It's a classic": Said to indicate that something is a perfect, often humorous or ironic, example of a situation.
  • "He brought the wrong report to the meeting? It's a classic!"

Adjective

1. of or pertaining to or characteristic of the ancient Greek and Roman cultures
   • classical mythology
   • classical
2. of or relating to the most highly developed stage of an earlier civilisation and its culture
   • classic Cinese pottery
3. of recognized authority or excellence
   • the definitive work on Greece
   • classical methods of navigation

Noun

1. an artist who has created classic works
2. a creation of the highest excellence