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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
As scientists call for a drastic reduction in global emissions to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, Suhail al-Mazrouei, the UAE's minister of energy and infrastructure, reiterated the importance of investing in oil and gas to meet market demand. David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 This is likely to lead to a slight cooling in global average surface temperature anomalies in coming months—albeit to levels still well above preindustrial conditions. Andrew King, WIRED, 27 July 2024 Climate change made those ocean temperatures up to 800 times more likely today than in a preindustrial climate with lower greenhouse gases in the air, according to calculations from Climate Central, a research nonprofit. Andrew Freedman, Axios, 8 Oct. 2024 One proponent of kids having more adult-free playtime is the anthropologist David Lancy, whose book Learning Without Lessons: Pedagogy in Indigenous Communities examines how children learn and play in small, preindustrial societies. Amanda Ruggeri, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 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 15 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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