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: regarded as being outdated or outmoded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

prehistorically

ˌprē-(h)i-ˈstȯr-i-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈstär-

adverb

Synonyms

• antiquated
• archaic
• dated
• démodé
• demoded
• fossilized
• kaput
• kaputt
• medieval
• mediaeval
• moribund
• mossy
• moth-eaten
• neolithic
• Noachian
• obsolete
• out-of-date
• outdated
• outmoded
• outworn
• passé
• rusty
• Stone Age
• superannuated

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

Ongoing research is aiming to understand what role these kinds of wooden tools played in prehistoric societies and how exactly they were used. —Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

No climbing within 100 feet of rock art or prehistoric structures, nor on any arches or natural bridges. —Graham Averill, Outside Online, 28 Oct. 2024

Tonto National Monument Tucked into alcoves of steep mountainsides above Roosevelt Lake, two prehistoric Salado cliff dwellings built more than 700 years ago still gaze across the broad Tonto Basin. —Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 26 Oct. 2024

While every dinosaur fan has their own favorite prehistoric creature, the plant-eating stegosaurs is an extra cute option for four-legged friends. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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

prehistorically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb