classical music

US/ˈklæːsəkəl mjuːzɪk/UK/ˈklasɪk(ə)l ˈmjuːzɪk/

noun

Music of the classical period; the music of Mozart, Haydn, etc; the musical period before the romantic.

Similar
classicalserious music
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Meanings

nounclassical music (usually uncountable, plural classical musics)

plural classical musics

  1. uncountableusuallyentertainmentMusic of the classical period; the music of Mozart, Haydn, etc; the musical period before the romantic.
  2. uncountableusuallyentertainmentThe more serious forms of music, taught through formal education and performed according to strict rules, as opposed to folk music or popular music.

Synonyms & antonyms

nountraditional genre of music conforming to an established form and appealing to critical interest and developed musical taste

Similar
classicalserious music
Broader
music genremusical genremusical style
Also see
classical

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From classical + music.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans klassieke musiek, klassieke musiek
  • klassieke musiekmusic of the classical period
  • klassieke musiekthe more serious forms of European and American music
Arabic مُوسِيقَى كْلَاسِيكِيَّة, مُوسِيقَى كْلَاسِيكِيَّة
  • مُوسِيقَى كْلَاسِيكِيَّة (mūsīqā klāsīkiyya)music of the classical period
  • مُوسِيقَى كْلَاسِيكِيَّة (mūsīqā klāsikiyya)the more serious forms of European and American music
Bengali ধ্রুপদী সঙ্গীত
  • ধ্রুপদী সঙ্গীত (dhrupodi śoṅgit)music of the classical period
Bulgarian класи́ческа му́зика
  • класи́ческа му́зика (klasíčeska múzika)music of the classical period
Chinese Mandarin 古典音樂 /古典音乐, 古典樂 /古典乐
  • 古典音樂 /古典音乐 (gǔdiǎn yīnyuè)music of the classical period
  • 古典樂 /古典乐 (gǔdiǎnyuè)music of the classical period
  • 古典音樂 /古典音乐 (gǔdiǎn yīnyuè)the more serious forms of European and American music
  • 古典樂 /古典乐 (gǔdiǎnyuè)the more serious forms of European and American music
Czech klasická hudba, vážná hudba
  • klasická hudbamusic of the classical period
  • vážná hudbathe more serious forms of European and American music
Danish klassisk musik, klassisk musik
  • klassisk musikmusic of the classical period
  • klassisk musikthe more serious forms of European and American music
Dutch klassieke muziek, klassieke muziek
  • klassieke muziekmusic of the classical period
  • klassieke muziekthe more serious forms of European and American music
Esperanto klasika muziko
  • klasika muzikomusic of the classical period
Estonian klassikaline muusika
  • klassikaline muusikamusic of the classical period
Finnish klassinen musiikki, klassinen musiikki
  • klassinen musiikkimusic of the classical period
  • klassinen musiikkithe more serious forms of European and American music
French musique classique, classique
  • musique classiquemusic of the classical period
  • classiquemusic of the classical period
  • musique classiquethe more serious forms of European and American music
  • musique savantethe more serious forms of European and American music
German Klassik, Klassische Musik
  • Klassikmusic of the classical period
  • Klassische Musikmusic of the classical period
  • Klassikthe more serious forms of European and American music
  • klassische Musikthe more serious forms of European and American music
Greek κλασική μουσική
  • κλασική μουσική (klasikí mousikí)music of the classical period
Hindi शास्त्रीय संगीत, क्लासिकल म्युज़िक
  • शास्त्रीय संगीत (śāstrīya saṅgīt)music of the classical period
  • क्लासिकल म्युज़िक (klāsikal myuzik)music of the classical period
Hungarian komolyzene, klasszikus zene
  • komolyzenethe more serious forms of European and American music
  • klasszikus zenethe more serious forms of European and American music
Indonesian musik klasik
  • musik klasikmusic of the classical period
Irish ceol clasaiceach
  • ceol clasaiceachmusic of the classical period
Italian musica classica, musica classica
  • musica classicamusic of the classical period
  • musica classicathe more serious forms of European and American music
Japanese クラシック音楽, クラシック
  • クラシック音楽 (kurasshiku ongaku)music of the classical period
  • クラシック (kurasshiku)music of the classical period
  • 古典音楽 (koten ongaku)music of the classical period
  • クラシック音楽 (kurashikku-ongaku)the more serious forms of European and American music
  • 古典音楽 (koten-ongaku)the more serious forms of European and American music
Korean 고전 음악, 클래식 음악
  • 고전 음악 (gojeon eumak)music of the classical period
  • 클래식 음악 (keullaesik eumak)music of the classical period
  • 클래식 (keullaesik)music of the classical period
  • 고전 음악 (gojeon eumak)the more serious forms of European and American music
Latin mūsica classica
  • mūsica classicamusic of the classical period
Latvian klasiskā mūzika
  • klasiskā mūzikamusic of the classical period
Lithuanian klasikinė muzika
  • klasikinė muzikamusic of the classical period
Malay muzik klasik, muzik klasikal
  • muzik klasikmusic of the classical period
  • muzik klasikalmusic of the classical period
Māori puoro ōkawa, puoro ōkawa
  • puoro ōkawamusic of the classical period
  • puoro ōkawathe more serious forms of European and American music
Norwegian Bokmål klassisk musikk, klassisk musikk
  • klassisk musikkmusic of the classical period
  • klassisk musikkthe more serious forms of European and American music
Polish muzyka poważna, muzyka klasyczna
  • muzyka poważnamusic of the classical period
  • muzyka klasycznamusic of the classical period
  • muzyka poważnathe more serious forms of European and American music
Portuguese música clássica, música clássica
  • música clássicamusic of the classical period
  • música clássicathe more serious forms of European and American music
Romanian muzică clasică
  • muzică clasicămusic of the classical period
Russian класси́ческая му́зыка, кла́ссика
  • класси́ческая му́зыка (klassíčeskaja múzyka)music of the classical period
  • кла́ссика (klássika)music of the classical period
  • класси́ческая му́зыка (klassíčeskaja múzyka)the more serious forms of European and American music
  • кла́ссика (klássika)the more serious forms of European and American music
Slovak klasická hudba
  • klasická hudbamusic of the classical period
Spanish música clásica, música clásica
  • música clásicamusic of the classical period
  • música clásicathe more serious forms of European and American music
Swahili muziki wa klasiki
  • muziki wa klasikimusic of the classical period
Swedish klassisk musik, klassisk musik
  • klassisk musikmusic of the classical period
  • klassisk musikthe more serious forms of European and American music
Tagalog musikang klasiko
  • musikang klasikomusic of the classical period
Tamil பழம்பெரும் இசை செவ்விசை
  • பழம்பெரும் இசை செவ்விசை (paḻamperum icai cevvicai)the more serious forms of European and American music
Thai ดนตรีคลาสสิก
  • ดนตรีคลาสสิก (don-dtrii-kláat-sìk)music of the classical period
Turkish klasik müzik
  • klasik müzikmusic of the classical period
Ukrainian класи́чна му́зика, кла́сика
  • класи́чна му́зика (klasýčna múzyka)music of the classical period
  • кла́сика (klásyka)music of the classical period
Urdu کِلاسِیکی مُوسِیقِی
  • کِلاسِیکی مُوسِیقِی (kilāsīkī mūsīqī)music of the classical period
Vietnamese nhạc cổ điển, nhạc cổ điển
  • nhạc cổ điểnmusic of the classical period
  • nhạc cổ điểnthe more serious forms of European and American music
  • âm nhạc cổ điểnthe more serious forms of European and American music
Cite this entry
APA

classical music. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/classical%20music

MLA

“classical music.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/classical%20music. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “classical music,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/classical%20music.

Source: classical music on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.