immemorial

adjective

im·​me·​mo·​ri·​al ˌi-mə-ˈmȯr-ē-əl 

: extending or existing since beyond the reach of memory, record, or tradition

the immemorial roots of human spirituality

see also time immemorial

immemorially

ˌi-mə-ˈmȯr-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of immemorial

• ancient
• venerable
• medieval
• old

Examples of immemorial in a Sentence

the immemorial roots of human spirituality

stories passed down from time immemorial

Recent Examples on the Web

Since then, the Internet has gone about its immemorial business of destroying all incumbent forms of media; not content with vampirizing print, the digital space began sucking the life from pay-TV a dozen years ago. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Trevor Sullivan is transfixed by the immemorial existence his companions evoke. —Victoria Kim, New York Times, 2 July 2025

An immemorial theme of French literature, la montée à Paris—the ascent to Paris—doesn’t come off as an overly recommendable move. —Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 19 May 2025

Even in the first century C.E., when the statue took its complete form, Romans were harking back to an immemorial Greece. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from French immémorial, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin immemorialis lacking memory, from Latin in- + memorialis memorial

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing immemorial

• since time immemorial
• time immemorial

Rhymes for immemorial

• categorial
• curatorial
• dictatorial
• directorial
• editorial
• equatorial
• infusorial
• janitorial
• professorial
• reportorial
• senatorial
• territorial

Kids Definition

immemorial

adjective

im·​me·​mo·​ri·​al ˌim-ə-ˈmōr-ē-əl 

-ˈmȯr-

: going back beyond the reach of memory or record : very ancient

from time immemorial

immemorially

-ē-ə-lē 

adverb