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.
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 Copernicus, a European climate monitoring program, reported that January 2025 was the warmest on record and about 3 degrees Fahrenheit above preindustrial temperature averages. Evan Bush, NBC News, 8 Feb. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Preindustrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preindustrial. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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