prehistoric

adjective

pre·​his·​tor·​ic ˌprē-(h)i-ˈstȯr-ik 

-ˈstär-

variants or less commonly prehistorical

ˌprē-(h)i-ˈstȯr-i-kəl 

-ˈstär-

1

: of, relating to, or existing in times antedating written history

2

: of or relating to a language in a period of its development from which contemporary records of its sounds and forms have not been preserved

3

: regarded as being outdated or outmoded

prehistoric attitudes

prehistorically

ˌprē-(h)i-ˈstȯr-i-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈstär-

adverb

Synonyms of prehistoric

• archaic
• obsolete
• medieval
• antiquated
• neolithic

Examples of prehistoric in a Sentence

His attitudes about women are downright prehistoric.

prehistoric notions about mental illness that have no place in today's world

Recent Examples on the Web

In this period, the ancestors of the prehistoric cave bears (Ursus spelaeus), Ursus deningeri, became increasingly herbivorous. —New Atlas, 2 Dec. 2025

The prehistoric remains were once part of Thorney Island, a sandy area near the River Thames that eventually became the heart of medieval Westminster. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 Dec. 2025

Defrosted from the Arctic ice thanks to a nuclear test, the big dino lays waste to New York, toppling buildings and bringing with it a deadly prehistoric plague that’s frankly scarier in the COVID era than the giant monster is. —James Grebey, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

There is no need to explain the similarity between Siesbye’s pots and the prehistoric object, with its round belly and fine lines decorating the lip. —Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prehistoric

• anaphoric
• metaphoric
• meteoric
• paregoric
• pyrophoric
• boric
• chloric
• doric
• toric
• caloric
• dysphoric
• euphoric

Kids Definition

prehistoric

adjective

pre·​his·​tor·​ic ˌprē-(h)is-ˈtȯr-ik 

-ˈtär-

: of, relating to, or existing in times before written history

prehistoric animals

prehistorically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb