primitive

1 of 2

adjective

prim·​i·​tive ˈpri-mə-tiv 

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

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

primitively adverb

primitiveness noun

primitivity

ˌpri-mə-ˈti-və-tē 

noun

primitive

2 of 2

noun

plural primitives

1

a

: something primitive

specifically : an original or primary 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 naivete

c

: a work of art produced by an Indigenous (see indigenous sense 1b) artist

d

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

3

a

dated, sometimes offensive : a member of a people that is nonindustrial, often tribal, and often without a written language

b

disparaging + often offensive : an unsophisticated person

Synonyms of primitive

Adjective

• rudimentary

Examples of primitive in a Sentence

Adjective

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The technology they used was primitive and outdated.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.

Noun

The museum is known for its collection of American primitives.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

On the east side of the national wildlife refuge, campers can experience the most rustic overnight experience with primitive tent camping on a wooden platform overlooking the swamp. —Sheeka Sanahori, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025

There are also several primitive campgrounds spaced out around the park. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025

Noun

Tesla has also utilized motion capture to collect data on human movement, thereby accelerating the training of motion primitives. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025

According to Albert Speer’s Inside the Third Reich, Hitler was agitated by Owens’s four-gold-medal performance, and declared that Black athletes were jungle primitives who should be excluded from future competitions. —Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English prymytyff, primitive "early (of the Christian church), non-corporeal (of the cause of a disease)," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French primitif "original, primary (of a cause)," borrowed from Medieval Latin prīmitīvus "belonging to the earliest time or state, original," going back to Latin, "early, first-formed," from prīmitus "at first, for the first time, originally" (from prīmus "first, foremost, earliest" + -itus, adverbial suffix of origin) + -īvus -ive — more at prime entry 1

Noun

noun derivative of primitive entry 1; (sense 1b) Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin prīmitīvus, noun derivative of prīmitīvus "primary, original"

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing primitive

• primitive streak

Kids Definition

primitive

1 of 2 adjective

prim·​i·​tive ˈprim-ət-iv 

1

a

: of or relating to the earliest age or period

primitive forests

the primitive church

b

: closely resembling an ancient ancestor

a primitive fish

2

: belonging to or characteristic of an early stage of development

primitive tools

3

sometimes offensive : of or relating to a people or culture that lacks a written language and advanced technologies

primitive societies

4

: being or made by a self-taught artist

primitively adverb

primitiveness noun

primitive

2 of 2 noun

1

: something primitive : something basic or original

2

: a member of a primitive people

Medical Definition

primitive

adjective

prim·​i·​tive ˈprim-ət-iv 

1

: closely approximating an early ancestral type : little evolved

2

: belonging to or characteristic of an early stage of development

primitive cells

primitively adverb