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: regarded as being outdated or outmoded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 of prehistoric

• archaic
• obsolete
• medieval
• antiquated
• 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

That spans from prehistoric people to the famed Buffalo Soldiers. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

There, 54 clusters of stone columns more than 6,000 years old point and fan out in every direction, like prehistoric missiles aimed at the sky. — Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026

The Mokattam Formation in northern Egypt is a thick layer of limestone that has preserved prehistoric marine fossils, including fish, sharks and early whales. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

Stroll through the woods and encounter prehistoric scenes, luminous flowers, lantern art and a host of mythical creatures. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

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