preindustrial

adjective

pre·​in·​dus·​tri·​al ˌprē-in-ˈdə-strē-əl How to pronounce preindustrial (audio)
variants or pre-industrial
1
: not having developed or adopted industry : not industrialized
preindustrial agrarian societies
preindustrial civilization
2
: occurring, existing, or originating before the development or adoption of industry
in preindustrial times
preindustrial levels of carbon dioxide
preindustrial artifacts
still made using preindustrial methods
also : resembling that of preindustrial times
a return to a preindustrial way of life

Examples of preindustrial in a Sentence

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.
The Paris agreement set the system of regularly ratcheting up ambitions for fighting climate change as away to keep warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels. Seth Borenstein, Sibi Arasu, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2024 It is also expected to be the first full year where global average temperatures were at least 2.7 degrees above preindustrial levels, a target that world leaders and climate scientists had hoped to stay below to curb rising temperatures. Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 19 Nov. 2024 This is how global temperatures have departed from the preindustrial 1880-1899 average. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024 At current emission levels, the average temperature in Italy, already breaking records, is headed toward a rise of 2 degrees Celsius or more by 2050 from its preindustrial average, according to a Europe-wide Climate Risk Atlas. Mark Schapiro, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for preindustrial 

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of preindustrial was in 1883

Dictionary Entries Near preindustrial

Cite this Entry

“Preindustrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preindustrial. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!