prelife

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​life ˌprē-ˈlīf 

variants or pre-life

1

: of, relating to, or occurring during the time preceding the first appearance of life on earth

theories on Earth's prelife atmosphere

2

: of, relating to, or occurring during a prelife

It never fails to amaze me how much food is available. I guess I have some pre-life memory of a time of real hunger in Russia or Israel or somewhere.

—Benjamin J. Stein

prelife

2 of 2

noun

variants or pre-life

plural prelives or pre-lives

: a life conceived as lived before one's present life

having a belief in a prelife

compare afterlife

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1937, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1970, in the meaning defined above