Meaning

Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art..

Definitions by Sense

1. Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.
2. Of or pertaining to established principles in a discipline.
3. (music) Describing Western music and musicians of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
4. (informal, music) Describing art music (rather than pop, jazz, blues, etc), especially when played using instruments of the orchestra.
5. Of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans, especially to Greek or Roman authors of the highest rank, or of the period when their best literature was produced; of or pertaining to places inhabited by the ancient Greeks and Romans, or rendered famous by their deeds.
6. Knowledgeable or skilled in the classics; versed in the classics.
7. Conforming to the best authority in literature and art; chaste; pure; refined
8. (physics) Pertaining to models of physical laws that do not take quantum or relativistic effects into account; Newtonian or Maxwellian.

Example Sentences

... Mr. Greaves, who may be juſtly reckoned a Claſſical Author on this Subject.

Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get; what you get is classical alpha-taxonomy which is, very largely and for sound reasons, in disrepute today.

He [Atterbury] directed the classical studies of the undergraduates of his college.

a classical scholar

But she’s not just classy; she’s classical: so deeply versed in tap tradition and technique that she has the whole of it at her command and never has to worry.

classical dance

1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume 1, page 151. Classical, provincial, and national synods.

Similarly, the new classicals never claimed to be Austrians, nor did they ever make the attempt to meet Austrian objections. Therefore, we cannot fault them for not using this methodology. Nevertheless, new classicals constantly preach […]

Word Forms

• more classical
• most classical
• classicals

Synonyms for classical

Antonyms for classical

Related Words

When Should You Use Classical?

Use classical when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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