attic

An attic is the space located directly beneath the roof of a building. Attics are typically used for storage but may be finished as living spaces such as bedrooms or home offices. They are often accessed by a staircase or a pull-down ladder, and feature sloped ceilings that follow the roofline. The usable headroom and insulation vary with building design and climate.

The term Attic also refers to Attica, the historic region of Greece that contains Athens. In classical studies, Attic Greek denotes the dialect spoken in ancient Attica, and Attic pottery denotes ceramic wares produced there, notably in the black-figure and red-figure styles that spread across the Mediterranean. These artifacts are key sources for the study of ancient Greek art and daily life.

In architectural usage, attic describes the uppermost story of a building or a low-ceilinged room just below the roof, sometimes set behind a parapet. The word derives from Attica via French attique and Italian attico, connecting the sense of an upper, refined space with the region's classical associations. In modern construction, attics may be ventilated storage, uninhabitable spaces, or finished for habitation.