Ancient vs. Antique — What's the Difference?

Extremely old, often relating to early human history.

An object that is at least 100 years old and collectible.

Having been in existence for a long time.

Pertaining to an older time period, but not ancient.

Belonging to a distant historical period.

Having value due to age, rarity, or craftsmanship.

Outdated or no longer in use.

Old-fashioned or out-of-date.

Pertaining to the wisdom of previous generations.

Demonstrative of a style or fashion of the past.

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence

A true antique (Latin: antiquus; 'old', 'ancient') is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old (or some other limit), although the term is often used loosely to describe any object that is old. An antique is usually an item that is collected or desirable because of its age, beauty, rarity, condition, utility, personal emotional connection, and/or other unique features.

An old man

A collectable object such as a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its age and quality

A standard, flag, or ensign.

Having a high value because of age and quality

Of, relating to, or belonging to times long past, especially before the fall of the Western Roman Empire (AD 476)

Belonging to ancient times

Of great age; very old

Make (something) resemble an antique by artificial means

(Archaic) Having the qualities associated with age, wisdom, or long use; venerable

Search or shop for antiques

A very old person.

Belonging to, made in, or typical of an earlier period

A person who lived in times long past.

Of or belonging to ancient times, especially of, from, or characteristic of ancient Greece or Rome.

The peoples of the classical nations of antiquity.

Relating to or dealing in antiques.

The ancient Greek and Roman authors.

Having the appearance of an antique.

(Archaic) An ensign; a flag.

Old-fashioned; outdated

(Obsolete) A flag-bearer or lieutenant.

An object having special value because of its age, especially a domestic item or piece of furniture or handicraft esteemed for its artistry, beauty, or period of origin.

Having lasted from a remote period; having been of long duration; of great age, very old.

The style or manner of ancient times, especially that of ancient Greek or Roman art

Existent or occurring in time long past, usually in remote ages; belonging to or associated with antiquity; old, as opposed to modern.

To give the appearance of an antique to

(history) Relating to antiquity as a primarily European historical period; the time before the Middle Ages.

To hunt or shop for antiques.

(obsolete) Experienced; versed.

Having existed in ancient times, descended from antiquity; used especially in reference to Greece and Rome.

(obsolete) Former; sometime.

Belonging to former times, not modern, out of date, old-fashioned.

A person who is very old.

(typography) Designating a style of type.

A person who lived in ancient times.

(bookbinding) Embossed without gilt.

One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or of Chancery.

(obsolete) antic, specifically:

(obsolete) A senior; an elder; a predecessor.

Fantastic, odd, wild, antic.

A flag, banner, standard or ensign.

In general, anything very old; specifically:

The bearer of a flag; ensign

An old object perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance.

Old; that happened or existed in former times, usually at a great distance of time; belonging to times long past; specifically applied to the times before the fall of the Roman empire; - opposed to modern; as, ancient authors, literature, history; ancient days.

An object of ancient times.

Old; that has been of long duration; of long standing; of great age; as, an ancient forest; an ancient castle.

(in the singular) The style or manner of ancient times, used especially of Greek and Roman art.

Known for a long time, or from early times; - opposed to recent or new; as, the ancient continent.

An old person.

Dignified, like an aged man; magisterial; venerable.

(obsolete) A man of ancient times.

Experienced; versed.

(typography) A style of type of thick and bold face in which all lines are of equal or nearly equal thickness.

Former; sometime.

(obsolete) antic, specifically:

Those who lived in former ages, as opposed to the moderns.

Grotesque entertainment; an antic.

An aged man; a patriarch. Hence: A governor; a ruler; a person of influence.

A performer in an antic; or in general, a burlesque performer, a buffoon.

A senior; an elder; a predecessor.

(intransitive) To search or shop for antiques.

One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or of Chancery.

(transitive) To make (an object) appear to be an antique in some way.

An ensign or flag.

To emboss without gilding.

The bearer of a flag; an ensign.

Old; ancient; of genuine antiquity; as, an antique statue. In this sense it usually refers to the flourishing ages of Greece and Rome.

Belonging to times long past especially of the historical period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire;

Old, as respects the present age, or a modern period of time; of old fashion; antiquated; as, an antique robe.

Very old;

Made in imitation of antiquity; as, the antique style of Thomson's "Castle of Indolence."

Odd; fantastic.

In general, anything very old; but in a more limited sense, a relic or object of ancient art; collectively, the antique, the remains of ancient art, as busts, statues, paintings, and vases.

An elderly man

Any piece of furniture or decorative object or the like produced in a former period and valuable because of its beauty or rarity

Shop for antiques;

Give an antique appearance to;

Made in or typical of earlier times and valued for its age;

Out of fashion;

Belonging to or lasting from times long ago;

Yes, "Antique" is usually related to collectible items like furniture or art.

"Antique" refers to an object that is at least 100 years old and is collectible.

While both imply age, they are generally not interchangeable due to differing degrees of age and context.

"Ancient" refers to something extremely old, often from a very early period in human history.

Mostly, but it can also describe styles or manners from an older period.

"Ancient" is often used in an academic or historical context.

Both can function as nouns, but their uses are different in this form.

Yes, it can refer to "ancient wisdom" or knowledge from long ago.

Often thousands of years, related to early human history.

Usually, antiques have material value due to age, craftsmanship, or rarity.

Yes, "antiquity" generally refers to ancient times but can also mean the quality of being antique.

Yes, both "Ancient" and "Antique" primarily serve as adjectives.

Typically, ancient items have historical or cultural significance.

It can be, especially when referring to something as outdated or obsolete.

Generally at least 100 years old.