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: regarded as being outdated or outmoded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
But evidence of when prehistoric people started eating meat has been difficult to find.
—
Hatty Willmoth, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025
These prehistoric people most closely followed a Mediterranean-like diet.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Jan. 2025
The prehistoric cave dates back to the Pleistocene Age.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2025
New research from around the world revealed dozens of new-to-science identifications of prehistoric animals, including dinosaurs, prehistoric reptiles, and flying reptiles.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prehistoric 
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Hatty Willmoth, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025
These prehistoric people most closely followed a Mediterranean-like diet.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Jan. 2025
The prehistoric cave dates back to the Pleistocene Age.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2025
New research from around the world revealed dozens of new-to-science identifications of prehistoric animals, including dinosaurs, prehistoric reptiles, and flying reptiles.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 26 Dec. 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 2 Feb. 2025.
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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