noun Common

vintage

VIHN-tihj

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Vintage (noun) means the year or place a wine (or similar product) comes from, especially when it indicates quality. Example: “Wine experts say that vintage was the best the valley had produced for years.”

noun

The year or place a wine (or similar product) comes from, especially when it indicates quality.

"Wine experts say that vintage was the best the valley had produced for years."

"The label shows the vintage, so you can see which year the grapes were picked."

"This bottle is from an excellent vintage."

adj

Old and of high quality; representing the best of a particular period.

"Her grandfather's vintage watch still keeps perfect time after all these years."

"He collects vintage motorcycles from the 1960s."

"She wore a vintage dress she found at a charity shop."

Typical of someone's best, most characteristic style or work.

"That sarcastic comeback was vintage him."

How to use vintage

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething old-fashioned but valued for its quality or style — or, for wine, the year it was made.

Common mistake

Vintage isn't the same as antique: vintage usually means decades old and stylish, while antique traditionally means at least 100 years old.

Common pairings

a vintage wine vintage clothing vintage car

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: vintages
Third person singular: vintages
Past tense: vintaged
Comparative: more vintage
Superlative: most vintage

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Can you complete this real example?

Wine experts say that _____ was the best the valley had produced for years.

Etymology

From Old French vendage, "grape harvest," from Latin vindēmia, from vīnum ("wine") + dēmere ("to take away").

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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classic timeless antique old-fashioned retro period

Related words

while old days point season age period stage

Rhymes for vintage

age wage cage page rage gage sage mage usage image stage adage

See all rhymes for vintage →

Frequently asked questions

What does “vintage” mean?

The word “vintage” means the year or place a wine (or similar product) comes from, especially when it indicates quality. In plain terms, something old-fashioned but valued for its quality or style — or, for wine, the year it was made.

How do you pronounce “vintage”?

“Vintage” is pronounced VIHN-tihj (/ˈvɪn.tɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).

How do you use “vintage” in a sentence?

Here is “vintage” used in a sentence: “This bottle is from an excellent vintage.”

What part of speech is “vintage”?

Depending on how it is used, “vintage” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “vintage” come from?

The word “vintage” comes from Latin. From Old French vendage, "grape harvest," from Latin vindēmia, from vīnum ("wine") + dēmere ("to take away").

Is “vintage” a common word?

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

How many meanings does “vintage” have?

“Vintage” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the year or place a wine (or similar product) comes from, especially when it indicates quality.

What is the difference between vintage and antique?

Vintage describes something old and of high quality that represents the best of a particular period, and it is often applied to items from a few decades ago. Antique usually refers to objects that are much older, commonly at least a century old, so all antiques are old but not everything vintage is antique.

What is the difference between vintage and retro?

Vintage refers to items that are genuinely old and from an earlier era, while retro describes new items made in a style that deliberately imitates the past. A vintage dress was actually made decades ago, whereas a retro dress is a modern piece styled to look that way.

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