preindustrial

adjective

pre·​in·​dus·​tri·​al ˌprē-in-ˈdə-strē-əl How to pronounce preindustrial (audio)
variants or pre-industrial
1
: not having developed or adopted industry : not industrialized
preindustrial agrarian societies
preindustrial civilization
2
: occurring, existing, or originating before the development or adoption of industry
in preindustrial times
preindustrial levels of carbon dioxide
preindustrial artifacts
still made using preindustrial methods
also : resembling that of preindustrial times
a return to a preindustrial way of life

Examples of preindustrial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The planet will almost certainly warm beyond an internationally agreed upon target of 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025 Atmospheric carbon dioxide has risen sharply since preindustrial times, owing mostly to human activities that pump greenhouse gases into the air. Denise Chow, NBC news, 5 June 2025 They are projected to decline by 70-90% at 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit of warming relative to preindustrial times and by 99% at 3.6 degrees. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025 Current levels of methane, a powerful, short-term warming agent, are 265% of preindustrial levels, the report shows. Andrew Freedman, Axios, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for preindustrial

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of preindustrial was in 1883

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preindustrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preindustrial. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!