prehistoric

adjective

variants or less commonly prehistorical
Synonyms of prehistoric
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: regarded as being outdated or outmoded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

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
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.
That absence presented a problem for scientists trying to understand how the animals spread around the prehistoric world. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 That said, prior archaeological digs have revealed similar prehistoric wooden weapons dating as far back as 400,000 years. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026 In Egypt, an underwater excavation in Alexandria uncovered a bronze ring depicting the legendary Lighthouse of Alexandria, while prehistoric rock art in Sinai reveals thousands of years of human activity. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026 For now, the prehistoric trees are offering Long Islanders a rare glimpse of a species whose roots stretch back to the time of the dinosaurs. — Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prehistoric

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prehistoric was in 1832

Cite this Entry

“Prehistoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prehistoric. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

prehistoric

adjective
: of, relating to, or existing in times before written history
prehistoric animals
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