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: regarded as being outdated or outmoded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
Synonyms of prehistoric
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
Walnut Canyon National Monument, Island Trail Dozens of prehistoric cliff dwellings built by the Sinagua people are tucked away in the contours of Walnut Canyon, east of Flagstaff.
—
Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Officials recently flagged signs at Big Bend National Park in Texas that referenced geology, fossils, and prehistoric history, some of which were written in both Spanish and English.
—Outside, 28 Jan. 2026
While the mighty megalodon is not swimming along the shores of the Bay State now, the enormous prehistoric shark relative once dominated the shallow seas that covered Maryland and the rest of the Atlantic coastal plain.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 28 Jan. 2026
The third, set in prehistoric times, is dazzling in its simplicity and dramatic rigor, and could’ve easily done without the others.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prehistoric
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Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Officials recently flagged signs at Big Bend National Park in Texas that referenced geology, fossils, and prehistoric history, some of which were written in both Spanish and English.
—Outside, 28 Jan. 2026
While the mighty megalodon is not swimming along the shores of the Bay State now, the enormous prehistoric shark relative once dominated the shallow seas that covered Maryland and the rest of the Atlantic coastal plain.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 28 Jan. 2026
The third, set in prehistoric times, is dazzling in its simplicity and dramatic rigor, and could’ve easily done without the others.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prehistoric
Cite this Entry
“Prehistoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prehistoric. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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