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 capsules.

—Philip Trupp

Examples of time capsule in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Reading the chemistry preserved in ancient rocks Meteorites can act as chemical time capsules, preserving material from the period when the solar system was forming. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026

The show, which will take place this Saturday, is in part inspired by its setting, New York’s hallowed time capsule of a power-lunch restaurant, The Grill. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2026

Others have made a special visit, drawn by the extraordinary architecture and design of the former International Departures Terminal, a Modernist time capsule dating back to 1959. — Nicola Chilton, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

Scrolling through model and creator Keaton Gray’s Instagram feels like flipping through an ’80s time capsule, replete with images of her chocolate brown bouffant hair. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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