prehistoric

adjective

pre·​his·​tor·​ic ˌprē-(h)i-ˈstȯr-ik How to pronounce prehistoric (audio)
-ˈstär-
variants or less commonly prehistorical
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: regarded as being outdated or outmoded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 adverb

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 The rail line spans 62 miles (almost 100 km) of track and 26 miles (42 km) of tunnels, and its construction uncovered many historical artifacts, including everything from a Tudor bowling ball to a prehistoric woolly mammoth. Adam Williams, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2024 The Great Lakes are full of mysterious clues about the past, from prehistoric hunting blinds to a Stonehenge-like arrangement of granite blocks. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Oct. 2024 Lego Creator 3-in-1 Mighty Dinosaur Toy Young aspiring paleontologists will be eager to embark on exciting prehistoric adventures with the Mighty Dinosaur. Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 8 Oct. 2024 For our prehistoric ancestors, being part of a tribe was essential to thrive and survive. Harrison Monarth, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prehistoric 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prehistoric.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prehistoric was in 1832

Dictionary Entries Near prehistoric

Cite this Entry

“Prehistoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prehistoric. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

prehistoric

adjective
pre·​his·​tor·​ic ˌprē-(h)is-ˈtȯr-ik How to pronounce prehistoric (audio)
-ˈtär-
: of, relating to, or existing in times before written history
prehistoric animals
prehistorically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on prehistoric

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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