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: regarded as being outdated or outmoded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
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 existence of any prehistoric apex predators in the islands of the Caribbean used to be doubted.
—
Ashley Belanger – May 16, ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
The original show gave the prehistoric reptiles the nature documentary treatment, offering glimpses of a world that was ruled by dinosaurs millions of years ago through the magic of CGI and animatronics.
—Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
And clues to how some species survived climatic changes in the prehistoric past could prove vital as the planet grows rapidly warmer and drier.
—Michael Ray Taylor, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2025
The quest to see this prehistoric art involves an extraordinary adventure: a trek of about 75 miles across the craggy plateau where there is nothing but nature.
—Angela Dansby, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prehistoric
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Ashley Belanger – May 16, ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
The original show gave the prehistoric reptiles the nature documentary treatment, offering glimpses of a world that was ruled by dinosaurs millions of years ago through the magic of CGI and animatronics.
—Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
And clues to how some species survived climatic changes in the prehistoric past could prove vital as the planet grows rapidly warmer and drier.
—Michael Ray Taylor, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2025
The quest to see this prehistoric art involves an extraordinary adventure: a trek of about 75 miles across the craggy plateau where there is nothing but nature.
—Angela Dansby, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prehistoric
Cite this Entry
“Prehistoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prehistoric. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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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