primitive

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adjective prim·i·tive \ ˈpri-mə-tiv \

Definition of primitive

1 a :not derived :original, primary

b :assumed as a basis; especially :axiomatic

primitive concepts

2 a :of or relating to the earliest age or period :primeval

the primitive church

b :closely approximating an early ancestral type :little evolved

primitive mammals

c :belonging to or characteristic of an early stage of development :crude, rudimentary

primitive technology

d :of, relating to, or constituting the assumed parent speech of related languages

primitive Germanic

3 a :elemental, natural

our primitive feelings of vengeance
—John Mackwood

b now sometimes offensive :of, relating to, or produced by a people or culture that is nonindustrial and often nonliterate and tribal

primitive art

c :naive

d (1) :self-taught, untutored

primitive craftsmen

(2) :produced by a self-taught artist

a primitive painting

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primitively

adverb

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primitiveness

noun

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primitivity

play \ˌpri-mə-ˈti-və-tē\ noun

See primitive defined for English-language learners

See primitive defined for kids

Examples of primitive in a Sentence

the time when primitive man first learned to use fire
The technology they used was primitive and outdated.
The camp had only a primitive outdoor toilet.

Recent Examples of primitive from the Web

Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.

— joseph j. kolb, Fox News, "10 year-old trips into million-year-old dinosaur fossil discovery in New Mexico," 18 July 2017
Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.

— OregonLive.com, "20 last-minute places to stay for the solar eclipse in Oregon," 12 July 2017
Here's how to tackle a daunting job A primitive drip irrigation system could be cobbled together by running water through an old garden hose that's riddled with holes along its length and has its end plugged.

— lee reich, Detroit Free Press, "Drip your garden to productivity and health," 7 July 2017
A lot of the campgrounds are primitive, and lack some common amenities - including water.

— jamie hale, OregonLive.com, "As fire season, solar eclipse align, Oregon prepares for disaster," 6 July 2017
South Beach Campground, a primitive campground located just south of Kalaloch is open through September 25.

— brian j. cantwell, The Seattle Times, "Rialto Beach road to reopen, astronomy sessions set as Olympic National Park marks birthday," 28 June 2017
Constructed in front of the stone ruins of the Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park in Ellicott City, that caveman-evocative set provides a suitably primitive stomping ground for the monstrous Caliban.

— mike giuliano, Howard County Times, "'The Tempest' is outdoors but hopefully not overhead," 23 June 2017
Can primitive materials bring us closer to our origins?

— daisy alioto, GQ, "Inside Magazzino, Upstate New York’s Next Great Art Escape," 23 June 2017
The park offers primitive and RV camping with 41 campsites, 30 of which feature 30- to 50-amp electric, water and sewer.

— joe songer | jsonger@al.com, AL.com, "The greatest outdoor adventure you can have in each Alabama county," 22 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'primitive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of primitive

Middle English primitif, from Latin primitivus first formed, from primitiae first fruits, from primus first — more at prime

primitive Synonyms

Synonyms

crude, low, rude, rudimentary

Antonyms

advanced, developed, evolved, high, higher, late

Related Words

basic, simple, uncomplicated; homely, homespun, unsophisticated; early, embryonic, primeval, primordial; backward, underdeveloped, undeveloped; aged, ancient, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, dated, fusty, hoary, musty, obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, outworn, passé, past, quaint, unmodernized

Near Antonyms

complex, complicated, intricate, involved, sophisticated; full-blown, grown, mature, matured, perfected, ripe, ripened; civilized, cultivated, enlightened, refined; contemporary, current, latest, mod, modern, modernistic, new, newfangled, new-fashioned, novel, now, present-day, space-age, state-of-the-art, supermodern, ultramodern, up-to-date

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

primitive

noun

Definition of primitive

1 a :something primitive; specifically :a primitive idea, term, or proposition

b :a root word

2 a (1) :an artist of an early period of a culture or artistic movement

(2) :a later imitator or follower of such an artist

b (1) :a self-taught artist

(2) :an artist whose work is marked by directness and naïveté

c :a work of art produced by a primitive artist

d :a typically rough or simple usually handmade and antique home accessory or furnishing

3 a :a member of a primitive people

b :an unsophisticated person

See primitive defined for English-language learners

Examples of primitive in a Sentence

The museum is known for its collection of American primitives.

Recent Examples of primitive from the Web

Today, conservatism is soiled by scowling primitives whose irritable gestures lack mental ingredients.

— george f. will, The Denver Post, "William F. Buckley captained conservatism before it was hijacked," 31 May 2017
Friday’s lineup includes Modern Primitives, Hectorina, Asheville’s Marley Carroll, and Party Dad.

— courtney devores, charlotteobserver, "7 buzzworthy concerts coming to Charlotte in the next week," 24 May 2017

Other Anthropology Terms

ectomorph, ethnography, prehistory, yurt

PRIMITIVE Defined for English Language Learners

primitive

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adjective

Definition of primitive for English Language Learners

: of, belonging to, or seeming to come from an early time in the very ancient past
: not having a written language, advanced technology, etc.
: very simple and basic : made or done in a way that is not modern and that does not show much skill

primitive

noun

Definition of primitive for English Language Learners

: an artist who makes art in a simple style that is childlike; also : the art made by such an artist
: someone who belongs to a primitive society

PRIMITIVE Defined for Kids

primitive

play

adjective prim·i·tive \ ˈpri-mə-tiv \

Definition of primitive for Students

1 :of or belonging to very early times

primitive cultures

2 :of or belonging to an early stage of development

primitive tools

Word Root of primitive

The Latin word primus, meaning “first,” gives us the root prim. Words from the Latin primus have something to do with being first. Anything primary comes first in importance or order. Anything primeval belongs to a period of time that came first, before the present. Anything primitive also belongs to an earlier time.