neolithic

adjective

neo·​lith·​ic ˌnē-ə-ˈli-thik 

1

Neolithic : of or relating to the latest period of the Stone Age characterized by polished stone implements

2

: belonging to an earlier age and now outmoded

Did you know?

Since lithos in Greek means "stone", the Neolithic period is the "new" or "late" period of the Stone Age, in contrast to the Paleolithic period ("old" or "early" period) and the Mesolithic period ("middle" period) of the Stone Age. The use of polished stone tools came to different parts of the world at different times, but the Neolithic Age is usually said to begin around 9000 B.C. and to end around 3000 B.C., when the Bronze Age begins. The Neolithic is the era when the farming of plants and animals begins, and when, as a result, humans first begin to create permanent settlements.

Synonyms of neolithic

• archaic
• obsolete
• medieval
• prehistoric
• antiquated

Examples of neolithic in a Sentence

my old manual typewriter now seems positively neolithic

Recent Examples on the Web

The history of whiskey (also known as whisky) is commonly thought to have begun in the Middle Ages, but Robinson goes all the way back to the Neolithic era and the precursor of what would evolve into the pot still, and forward to the present day. —Tony Sachs, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

Instead, the new study strengthens the case that Neolithic humans deliberately moved the stones over vast distances using early transport methods. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Jan. 2026

Larissa also happens to be home to the oldest settlements in the country—which is saying something in Greece—with remnants found on the site dating back to the Neolithic period (roughly 8,000 years ago). —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026

Previous discoveries of cremations in Africa date to pastoral neolithic herders from 3,500 years ago or later food-producing societies with higher population densities, which made the discovery even more unexpected, the researchers said. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

neo- + -lithic

Note: Term introduced, along with Paleolithic, by the British politician and scientist Sir John Lubbock (1834-1913) in Pre-historic Times, as Illustrated by Ancient Remains, and the Manners and Customs of Modern Savages (London, 1865), p. 3.

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for neolithic

• chalcolithic
• megalithic
• mesolithic
• monolithic
• lithic
• mythic
• paleolithic

Kids Definition

Neolithic

adjective

Neo·​lith·​ic

ˌnē-ə-ˈlith-ik

: of, relating to, or being the latest period of the Stone Age which is marked by the use of polished stone tools