antiquarian

American  

[an-ti-kwair-ee-uhn] / ˌæn tɪˈkwɛər i ən /

adjective

1. pertaining to antiquaries or to the study of antiquities.

2. of, dealing in, or interested in old or rare books.

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noun

1. an antiquary.

2. a size of drawing and writing paper, 31 × 53 or 29 × 52 inches.

antiquarian British  

/ ˌæntɪˈkwɛərɪən /

adjective

1. concerned with the study of antiquities or antiques

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noun

1. the largest size of handmade drawing paper, 53 × 31 inches

2. a less common name for antiquary

Other Word Forms

• antiquarianism noun

Etymology

Origin of antiquarian

1600–10; < Latin antīquāri ( us ) ( antiquary ) + -an

Explanation

Something that's antiquarian is antique, and usually collectible. Antiquarian books are used books that have some value because they're rare. If you go into the antiquarian business, you'll probably buy and sell old things — antique furniture, paintings, or coins, for example. An antiquarian book store has unusual and valuable editions of books for sale. An antiquarian is someone who specializes in, studies, or collects antiques. The word comes from the Latin antiquarius, "pertaining to antiquity."

Example Sentences

"He was looking for picturesque subjects which were very popular with an antiquarian market at the time," she said.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2026

Every book had a story on top of the story within of how I’d hunted it down in antiquarian bookstores big and small across the world, and later online.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2026

The Civil Guard police force has also released an antiquarian suspected of having received the items, the court added.

From Barron's • Nov. 28, 2025

“On the Calculation of Volume,” Danish author Solvej Balle’s seven-volume opus, follows an antiquarian bookseller who gets stuck reliving the same mid-November day over and over again.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 26, 2025

The doors lock and hinges are so big and antiquarian, they must be Louis XIV.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr