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: regarded as being outdated or outmoded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
Stories for Better Security People are hardwired to respond to stories, whether shared around prehistoric campfires or across digital platforms today.
—
Patrick Lin, Professor Of Philosophy, Discover Magazine, 6 July 2024
Eventually, a subset of carnivorous dinosaurs, including sickle-clawed raptors and prehistoric precursors to birds, evolved complex feathers made of keratin, the same fibrous protein that makes up the hair and fingernails of people.
—science.org, 3 July 2024
Some were later fired in the hearth, and some were left to the elements, according to a team of archaeologists who have submitted a paper about this example of prehistoric play to PLOS One that is currently under review.
—Jaimie Seaton, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 July 2024
Seeing a flashing light approach on a prehistoric computer screen is thus terrifying.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for prehistoric 
Patrick Lin, Professor Of Philosophy, Discover Magazine, 6 July 2024
Eventually, a subset of carnivorous dinosaurs, including sickle-clawed raptors and prehistoric precursors to birds, evolved complex feathers made of keratin, the same fibrous protein that makes up the hair and fingernails of people.
—science.org, 3 July 2024
Some were later fired in the hearth, and some were left to the elements, according to a team of archaeologists who have submitted a paper about this example of prehistoric play to PLOS One that is currently under review.
—Jaimie Seaton, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 July 2024
Seeing a flashing light approach on a prehistoric computer screen is thus terrifying.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for prehistoric
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prehistoric.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near prehistoric
Cite this Entry
“Prehistoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prehistoric. Accessed 15 Jul. 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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