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: regarded as being outdated or outmoded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.
Scientists have recovered ancient human DNA from cave walls, offering new clues about the people behind prehistoric art. George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey led the prehistoric revival, which revolved around a top-secret quest to retrieve the DNA of dinosaurs to create a miracle drug. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026 The 35,000-square-foot space spans four floors, with ample room for exhibits featuring historical photographs and relics from the prehistoric era to modern day. Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026 Their fossils can therefore help scientists predict what the climate might be like in the future through the field of conservation paleobiology, which uses evidence from prehistoric ecosystems to inform modern conservation efforts, Cruz said. Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 5 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 12 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

prehistoric

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

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