time capsule

noun

1

: a container holding historical records or objects representative of current culture that is deposited (as in a cornerstone) for preservation until discovery by some future age

2

: something resembling a time capsule

sunken vessels are archaeological time capsules

—Philip Trupp

Examples of time capsule in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Not quite a Saturday morning canyon carver, instead this Benz serves perfectly as the Sunday brunch cruiser, a true time capsule from a bygone era of motoring that Mercedes, and almost every automaker, can still learn from today. —Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Erik Nelson’s doc Daytime Revolution reassembles that bold experiment in bringing the counterculture to the squares as a lively time capsule. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Oct. 2024

Locket necklaces are one of the most personal pieces of jewelry a person can own—a delicate, miniature time capsule made to hold cherished memories. —Jessica Neises, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2024

In sixth grade, a teacher assigned Carter to write a letter to himself about his aspirations as a sort of time capsule to be opened as a high school senior. —Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

time capsule

noun

: a container holding historical records or objects representative of current culture that is placed (as in a cornerstone) for preservation until discovery by some future age