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: regarded as being outdated or outmoded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

• medieval
• archaic
• obsolete
• 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 Scotland, archaeologists found evidence of a prehistoric village at a future golf course earlier this year. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025

Because the books cover the story of the Ozarks region from prehistoric times to the 21st century, readers are likely to find a little something about any part of regional history that interests them. —Becca Martin-Brown, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2025

My introductory archaeology students try their hand at experimental archaeology by attempting to replicate a prehistoric bone awl (piercing tool). —JSTOR Daily, 28 Oct. 2025

Long an obstacle to humans seeking to continue down the river, the Falls of the Ohio offer a peek into prehistoric life. —Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Oct. 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