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: regarded as being outdated or outmoded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
In seasons 14 and 15, the PAW Patrol is on a roll with adventures that take the pups from the prehistoric wilds of Dinosaur Island to the rock-climbing heights of Rescue Mountain.
—
Denise Petski, Deadline, 14 May 2026
In this environment, the sauropod used its immense surface area to regulate body temperature while sharing the ecosystem with a diverse array of prehistoric life.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
An unusual tooth found in a cave offers a rare glimpse into a surprising procedure prehistoric humans might have performed to fix a cavity 59,000 years ago.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
In September 2023, UNESCO added Tell es-Sultan—a prehistoric site in Jericho—to its World Heritage List, drawing criticism from some far-right Israeli politicians and organizations.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prehistoric
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Denise Petski, Deadline, 14 May 2026
In this environment, the sauropod used its immense surface area to regulate body temperature while sharing the ecosystem with a diverse array of prehistoric life.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
An unusual tooth found in a cave offers a rare glimpse into a surprising procedure prehistoric humans might have performed to fix a cavity 59,000 years ago.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
In September 2023, UNESCO added Tell es-Sultan—a prehistoric site in Jericho—to its World Heritage List, drawing criticism from some far-right Israeli politicians and organizations.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 13 May 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 16 May. 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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