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.
While classics like High Fidelity and The Perks of Being a Wallflower are like time capsules, there’s a newer slew of 90’s throwback books for your reading pleasure. Nora Dahlia, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025 The spacecraft carries with it one of NASA's famous Golden Records, which contain a selection of greetings, images and sounds from Earth curated as both a time capsule and a method of establishing friendly first contact with any who may later find the distant probe. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 25 Oct. 2025 There are plenty of potential time capsules to check. Elizabeth Anne Brown, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2025 But this early-1990s time capsule, and now classic Hollywood film, is more dark comedy than murder mystery. Erik Morse, Vogue, 23 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 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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