classique

Classique is a French adjective and noun meaning "classic" or "traditional," and it can denote a work that has enduring significance. As an adjective it describes things associated with long-standing standards or refined tradition, for example "un style classique" or "musique classique." As a noun "un classique" or "les classiques" may refer to a widely recognized standard or a prolific, enduring work.

Etymology: The word derives from Old French classique, itself from Latin classicus, related to classical in English. The sense has broadened to cover both ancient Greco‑Roman‑inspired forms and more general conventionality.

Usage in culture: In music, "musique classique" is the usual French label for Western art music; within music history, the "période classique" roughly spans 1730–1820 and includes composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and early Beethoven. In literature and theatre, "classicisme" denotes a 17th-century French movement favoring clarity, order, harmony, and adherence to rules modeled on classical antiquity. In visual arts and architecture, "style classique" refers to Greco-Roman-inspired forms and a preference for proportion and symmetry.

In everyday speech, "classique" can describe things seen as traditional or timeless, in contrast with "moderne" or "contemporain." As a noun, "un classique" can designate a work that has become a standard or a widely recognized favorite. The term remains common in French to signal conventional quality, historical prestige, or a standard standard of excellence.

See also: classical, classicism, classical music.