study of the literary works of ancient Greece and Rome
"After years of teaching classics, Professor Henderson finally retired to spend his days gardening instead of analyzing Homer's epics."
Synonym of classical studies: the study of Ancient Greek and Latin, their literature, history etc.
"She always wears her vintage classics, preferring timeless pieces over fleeting trends."
plural of classic
In plain English: Classics are old books, movies, or works of art that are still popular and respected today because they are very good.
"Many students prefer to read the classics before moving on to modern novels."
Usage: Use "classics" to refer to works of literature or art from ancient Greece and Rome that are considered foundational to Western culture. Do not use this term for modern bestsellers unless they have achieved enduring historical significance similar to those ancient texts.
Derived from Latin classicus (meaning "of the first class"), the term originally distinguished elite citizens in ancient Rome who could afford to equip themselves as cavalrymen. It later evolved through French and English to denote works of enduring literary or artistic value.