English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Common

archive

AH-kyv

Archive (noun) means a place or collection where historical documents or records are stored. Example: “The old letters are kept in the city archive.”

noun
1
A place or collection where historical documents or records are stored.
"The old letters are kept in the city archive."
"Researchers spent weeks digging through the newspaper archive."
verb
1
To store something away, often digitally, for future reference rather than everyday use.
"Please archive last year's emails to free up space."

How to Use Archive

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA stored collection of records, or the act of putting something into storage.

Common mistake

As a verb, "archive" means to store something away, not to delete it — an archived file or email can usually still be retrieved.

Common pairings
digital archive archive a file national archive

Word Forms

archived past tense, archives plural, archives singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “archive” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The old letters are kept in the city _____.

Etymology

From French archives, from Latin archivum, from Greek arkheion, "town hall" — the place where official records were kept.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for archive

See all rhymes for archive →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “archive” mean?

The word “archive” means a place or collection where historical documents or records are stored. In plain terms, a stored collection of records, or the act of putting something into storage.

How do you pronounce “archive”?

“Archive” is pronounced AH-kyv (/ˈɑɹkaɪv/ in IPA).

How do you use “archive” in a sentence?

Here is “archive” used in a sentence: “The old letters are kept in the city archive.”

What part of speech is “archive”?

Depending on how it is used, “archive” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “archive” come from?

The word “archive” comes from Latin. From French archives, from Latin archivum, from Greek arkheion, "town hall" — the place where official records were kept.

Is “archive” a common word?

“Archive” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “archive” have?

“Archive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a place or collection where historical documents or records are stored.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial