neolithic

adjective

neo·​lith·​ic ˌnē-ə-ˈli-thik 

1

capitalized : of or relating to the latest period of the Stone Age characterized by polished stone implements

2

: belonging to an earlier age and now outmoded

Did you know?

Since lithos in Greek means "stone", the Neolithic period is the "new" or "late" period of the Stone Age, in contrast to the Paleolithic period ("old" or "early" period) and the Mesolithic period ("middle" period) of the Stone Age. The use of polished stone tools came to different parts of the world at different times, but the Neolithic Age is usually said to begin around 9000 B.C. and to end around 3000 B.C., when the Bronze Age begins. The Neolithic is the era when the farming of plants and animals begins, and when, as a result, humans first begin to create permanent settlements.

Synonyms

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• out-of-date
• outdated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

Examples of neolithic in a Sentence

my old manual typewriter now seems positively neolithic

Recent Examples on the Web

At sunrise this morning, about 15,000 people gathered at Stonehenge — the world’s most famous neolithic monument — to mark the arrival of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

When standing in the presence of a treasure, perhaps a neolithic fertility figure or Egyptian tablet, an icon pops up in the top-left-hand corner of the screen encouraging you to take a picture. —Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024

This verdant bay in Brittany's far southeast shelters 40-odd islands that are known for their neolithic monuments. —The Week Uk, theweek, 12 Oct. 2024

In southern Italy's Basilicata region, caves snake through the hillside town of Matera – the remains of neolithic villages that date back more than 6,000 years. —David Morgan, CBS News, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

neo- + -lithic

Note: Term introduced, along with Paleolithic, by the British politician and scientist Sir John Lubbock (1834-1913) in Pre-historic Times, as Illustrated by Ancient Remains, and the Manners and Customs of Modern Savages (London, 1865), p. 3.

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Neolithic

adjective

Neo·​lith·​ic

ˌnē-ə-ˈlith-ik

: of, relating to, or being the latest period of the Stone Age which is marked by the use of polished stone tools