classical
adjective
clas·si·cal
ˈkla-si-kəl 
2
a
: of or relating to the ancient Greek and Roman world and especially to its literature, art, architecture, or ideals
classical civilization
b
: versed in the classics
a classical scholar
3
a
: of or relating to music of the late 18th and early 19th centuries characterized by an emphasis on balance, clarity, and moderation
b
: of, relating to, or being music in the educated European tradition that includes such forms as art song, chamber music, opera, and symphony as distinguished from folk or popular music or jazz
4
a
b(1)
: of or relating to a form or system considered of first significance in earlier times
classical Mendelian genetics
(2)
: not involving relativity, wave mechanics, or quantum theory
classical physics
c
: conforming to a pattern of usage sanctioned by a body of literature rather than by everyday speech
5
: concerned with or giving instruction in the humanities, the fine arts, and the broad aspects of science
a classical curriculum
Examples of classical in a Sentence
the classical preparation of a ham for Easter
a writer celebrated for his classical profiles of eminent Victorians
Recent Examples on the Web
In other words, this is quantum supremacy: the point where a quantum computer can perform a calculation that is practically impossible for any classical computer to do in a reasonable amount of time.
—
John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Her female figures were large in their art-historical scope as well as in their scale, evoking not just the classical tradition but also canonical modernist works by Pablo Picasso and Willem de Kooning.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
His album topped the Billboard 200 for seven weeks, won a Grammy for best classical performance – instrumentalist and received an album of the year nod.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 6 June 2025
The American Kennel Club also recommends soft classical or reggae music for dogs who suffer from separation anxiety, noting that the rhythm and tempo help promote a sense of stability and security.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for classical
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John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Her female figures were large in their art-historical scope as well as in their scale, evoking not just the classical tradition but also canonical modernist works by Pablo Picasso and Willem de Kooning.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
His album topped the Billboard 200 for seven weeks, won a Grammy for best classical performance – instrumentalist and received an album of the year nod.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 6 June 2025
The American Kennel Club also recommends soft classical or reggae music for dogs who suffer from separation anxiety, noting that the rhythm and tempo help promote a sense of stability and security.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for classical
Cite this Entry
“Classical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/classical. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
classical
adjective
clas·si·cal
ˈklas-i-kəl
2
: of or relating to the classics of literature or art
especially
: of or relating to the ancient Greek and Roman classics
classical studies
3
: of or relating to serious music in the European tradition
4
5
: concerned with a general study of the arts and sciences and not specializing in technical studies
a classical high school
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