Stone Age

1 of 2

noun

1
: the first known period of prehistoric human culture characterized by the use of stone tools compare mesolithic, neolithic, paleolithic
2
: a stage in a human institution or field of endeavor regarded as primitive, outmoded, or obsolete
the Stone Age of information handling before computers

Stone Age

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or resembling the culture of the Stone Age especially in the use of stone implements
modern Stone Age peoples
our Stone Age ancestors
2
: primitive, outmoded, or unsophisticated (as in ideas or technology) by currently accepted standards
marauding mercenaries with Stone Age political ideasRobert Moss
using a Stone Age camera

Examples of Stone Age in a Sentence

Adjective Stone Age attitudes about the raising of children.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
All lines came back to one point — a single person living close to the Black Sea as many as 9,000 years ago, which includes the early Stone Age and the Viking Age, researchers said. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025 As for the bucolic scenes: for all their technical prowess, those were actually rooted in the digital Stone Age. Vogue, 6 May 2025 The stones appeared at the Neolithic, or New Stone Age, site of Vasagård approximately 4,900 years ago, at around the same time as a devastating volcanic winter in Northern Europe. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 16 Jan. 2025 Ireland’s lush, green landscapes are dotted with Stone Age tombs, with some burial sites dating back 5,000 years. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Stone Age

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Stone Age was in 1844

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Cite this Entry

“Stone Age.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Stone%20Age. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

Stone Age

noun
: the oldest period in which human beings are known to have existed that is marked by the use of stone tools

More from Merriam-Webster on Stone Age

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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