prehistoric
adjective
pre·his·tor·ic
ˌprē-(h)i-ˈstȯr-ik 
-ˈstär-
variants
or less commonly prehistorical
ˌprē-(h)i-ˈstȯr-i-kəl
-ˈstär-
1
: of, relating to, or existing in times antedating written history
2
: of or relating to a language in a period of its development from which contemporary records of its sounds and forms have not been preserved
3
: regarded as being outdated or outmoded
prehistoric attitudes
Examples of prehistoric in a Sentence
His attitudes about women are downright prehistoric.
prehistoric notions about mental illness that have no place in today's world
Recent Examples on the Web
The prehistoric markings were found in White Sands National Park by a team from Bournemouth University.
—
Tessa Solomon For Artnews, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2025
Inside the Jardin des Tuileries and in time to Robert Wilson’s choreography, models walked beneath a prehistoric flying bird and enormous boulders descended from the ceiling, over hot lava projected onto the ground, and around icebergs emerging from the floor.
—Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025
Several similar discoveries from this period have been found nearby: Another small wooden henge lies just over a mile away, and the landscape contains several prehistoric settlements.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025
To be clear, there was not a prehistoric, or even historic woolly mouse.
—Susan Young, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prehistoric
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Tessa Solomon For Artnews, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2025
Inside the Jardin des Tuileries and in time to Robert Wilson’s choreography, models walked beneath a prehistoric flying bird and enormous boulders descended from the ceiling, over hot lava projected onto the ground, and around icebergs emerging from the floor.
—Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025
Several similar discoveries from this period have been found nearby: Another small wooden henge lies just over a mile away, and the landscape contains several prehistoric settlements.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025
To be clear, there was not a prehistoric, or even historic woolly mouse.
—Susan Young, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prehistoric
Cite this Entry
“Prehistoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prehistoric. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prehistoric
adjective
pre·his·tor·ic
ˌprē-(h)is-ˈtȯr-ik
-ˈtär-
: of, relating to, or existing in times before written history
prehistoric animals
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