prehistory
noun
pre·his·to·ry
ˌprē-ˈhi-st(ə-)rē 
1
: the study of prehistoric humankind
2
: a history of the antecedents of an event, situation, or thing
3
: the prehistoric period of human evolution
Examples of prehistory in a Sentence
We are learning about the prehistory of North America.
Recent Examples on the Web
The narrative is organized around quotations from George Mackay Brown, who cherished the islands’ prehistory.
—
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
The university’s current chancellor Javier Reyes, in a statement, wrote off the last 14 years as little more than FBS prehistory.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 24 Nov. 2025
The need for an explanation dates back to prehistory.
—Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025
The 12 main galleries trace Egypt's history from prehistory through the Greco-Roman era, exploring themes of society, kingship and belief.
—Ayat Al-Tawy, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
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Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
The university’s current chancellor Javier Reyes, in a statement, wrote off the last 14 years as little more than FBS prehistory.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 24 Nov. 2025
The need for an explanation dates back to prehistory.
—Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025
The 12 main galleries trace Egypt's history from prehistory through the Greco-Roman era, exploring themes of society, kingship and belief.
—Ayat Al-Tawy, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prehistory
Cite this Entry
“Prehistory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prehistory. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prehistory
noun
pre·his·to·ry
(ˈ)prē-ˈhis-t(ə-)rē
: the study of prehistoric man
prehistorian
noun
ˌprē-(h)is-ˈtōr-ē-ən,
-ˈtȯr-
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