prehistoric
adjective
pre·his·tor·ic
ˌprē-(h)i-ˈstȯr-ik 
-ˈstär-
variants
or less commonly prehistorical
ˌprē-(h)i-ˈstȯr-i-kəl
-ˈstär-
1
: of, relating to, or existing in times antedating written history
2
: of or relating to a language in a period of its development from which contemporary records of its sounds and forms have not been preserved
3
: regarded as being outdated or outmoded
prehistoric attitudes
Synonyms
Examples of prehistoric in a Sentence
His attitudes about women are downright prehistoric.
prehistoric notions about mental illness that have no place in today's world
Recent Examples on the Web
Beneath the snowy slopes lay a prehistoric surprise: an ecosystem that predates the dinosaurs, revealed by melting snow before being stumbled upon by a hiker in the Italian Alps.
—
Hannah Peart, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024
This phenomenon provided the opportunity for prehistoric Britons to make use of the rich natural resources of the challenging landscape.
—Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
In prehistoric times, threats were physical—like predators or a lack of food—so the brain developed ways to avoid danger.
—Nicole Lipkin, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
The caves also hold evidence that could solve a prehistoric murder mystery.
—Martin Broen, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prehistoric 
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Hannah Peart, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024
This phenomenon provided the opportunity for prehistoric Britons to make use of the rich natural resources of the challenging landscape.
—Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
In prehistoric times, threats were physical—like predators or a lack of food—so the brain developed ways to avoid danger.
—Nicole Lipkin, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
The caves also hold evidence that could solve a prehistoric murder mystery.
—Martin Broen, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prehistoric
Dictionary Entries Near prehistoric
Cite this Entry
“Prehistoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prehistoric. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prehistoric
adjective
pre·his·tor·ic
ˌprē-(h)is-ˈtȯr-ik
-ˈtär-
: of, relating to, or existing in times before written history
prehistoric animals
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