primitive

¹prim·i·tive

adjective \ˈpri-mə-tiv\

Definition of PRIMITIVE

1

a : not derived : original, primary

b : assumed as a basis; especially : axiomatic <primitive concepts>

2

a : of or relating to the earliest age or period : primeval <the primitive church>

b : closely approximating an early ancestral type : little evolved <primitive mammals>

c : belonging to or characteristic of an early stage of development : crude, rudimentary <primitive technology>

d : of, relating to, or constituting the assumed parent speech of related languages <primitive Germanic>

3

a : elemental, natural <our primitive feelings of vengeance — John Mackwood>

b : of, relating to, or produced by a people or culture that is nonindustrial and often nonliterate and tribal <primitive art>

c : naive

d (1) : self-taught, untutored <primitive craftsmen> (2) : produced by a self-taught artist <a primitive painting>

— prim·i·tive·ly adverb

— prim·i·tive·ness noun

— prim·i·tiv·i·ty \ˌpri-mə-ˈti-və-tē\ noun

Examples of PRIMITIVE

1. the time when primitive man first learned to use fire
2. The technology they used was primitive and outdated.
3. The camp had only a primitive outdoor toilet.

Origin of PRIMITIVE

Middle English primitif, from Latin primitivus first formed, from primitiae first fruits, from primus first — more at prime

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PRIMITIVE

Synonyms

crude, low, rude, rudimentary

Antonyms

advanced, developed, evolved, high, higher, late

Related Words

basic, simple, uncomplicated; homely, homespun, unsophisticated; early, embryonic, primeval, primordial; backward, underdeveloped, undeveloped; aged, ancient, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, dated, fusty, hoary, musty, obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, outworn, passé, past, quaint, unmodernized

Near Antonyms

complex, complicated, intricate, involved, sophisticated; full-blown, grown, mature, matured, perfected, ripe, ripened; civilized, cultivated, enlightened, refined; contemporary, current, latest, mod, modern, modernistic, new, newfangled, new-fashioned, novel, now, present-day, space-age, state-of-the-art, supermodern, ultramodern, up-to-date

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

²primitive

noun

Definition of PRIMITIVE

1

a : something primitive; specifically : a primitive idea, term, or proposition

b : a root word

2

a (1) : an artist of an early period of a culture or artistic movement (2) : a later imitator or follower of such an artist

b (1) : a self-taught artist (2) : an artist whose work is marked by directness and naïveté

c : a work of art produced by a primitive artist

d : a typically rough or simple usually handmade and antique home accessory or furnishing

3

a : a member of a primitive people

b : an unsophisticated person

Examples of PRIMITIVE

1. The museum is known for its collection of American primitives.

First Known Use of PRIMITIVE

15th century

Other Anthropology Terms

ectomorph, ethnography, prehistory, yurt

prim·i·tive

adjective \ˈprim-ət-iv\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of PRIMITIVE

1

: closely approximating an early ancestral type : little evolved

2

: belonging to or characteristic of an early stage of development <primitive cells>

—prim·i·tive·ly adverb