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: regarded as being outdated or outmoded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.
Another, Undine kommt (Undine Comes), 2025, has its head in profile with a frontal eye, evoking the conventions of ancient Egyptian art and prehistoric female figurines, motifs that permeate Stötzer’s drawings, writings, and costumes. Elisa R. Linn, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 Beyond art, Griffin has also been a major buyer of important documents and prehistoric fossils. Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 31 Aug. 2026 After all, winds on the Black Rock Desert’s playa, or prehistoric lake bed, can reach up to seventy-five miles an hour and are loaded with enough alkali particles to burn the skin, and temperatures can range from a hundred and ten to forty. Henry Alford, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 Sometimes, trips to the national park include side visits to the famous prehistoric-looking Komodo dragons. Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 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 4 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

prehistoric

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