time capsule

noun

1
: a container holding historical records or objects representative of current culture that is deposited (as in a cornerstone) for preservation until discovery by some future age
2
: something resembling a time capsule
sunken vessels are archaeological time capsulesPhilip Trupp

Examples of time capsule 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.
Nintendo owned the Mariners at the time, so this card is a unique time capsule on several different levels. Tyler Holzhammer, New York Times, 7 July 2025 Both spacecraft carry a 12-inch golden phonograph record containing images and sounds of Earth curated by a team led by Carl Sagan, which was intended as a time capsule for any alien civilization that might someday intercept it. Scott Snowden, Space.com, 18 June 2025 Cáceres’s Old Town is a time capsule of medieval Spain, with labyrinthine alleys, Renaissance mansions, and stunning plazas. Carlsen Jes, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2025 For Kyler and Madison, their channel is almost like a time capsule of the family's younger years. Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for time capsule

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of time capsule was in 1938

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Cite this Entry

“Time capsule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time%20capsule. Accessed 27 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

time capsule

noun
: a container holding historical records or objects representative of current culture that is placed (as in a cornerstone) for preservation until discovery by some future age
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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