prehistory
noun
pre·his·to·ry
ˌprē-ˈhi-st(ə-)rē 
1
: the study of prehistoric humankind
2
: a history of the antecedents of an event, situation, or thing
3
: the prehistoric period of human evolution
Examples of prehistory in a Sentence
We are learning about the prehistory of North America.
Recent Examples on the Web
Take a few minutes to peruse these other Think Texas stories about the prehistory of the state.
—
Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Small wonder that from prehistory on people have worked out ways to predict eclipses and that one of the functions of Stonehenge is to act as a gigantic eclipse computer.
—David Szondy
june 28, New Atlas, 28 June 2025
For most of the 21st century many evolutionary biologists have assumed that humans evolved at a leisurely pace in recent millennia, in contrast to the dramatic transformations that occurred earlier in our prehistory.
—Kermit Pattison, Scientific American, 20 May 2025
Researchers published their findings on April 9 in Nature, and argue that as much as a millennium’s worth of Maltese prehistory may warrant reevaluation.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prehistory
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Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Small wonder that from prehistory on people have worked out ways to predict eclipses and that one of the functions of Stonehenge is to act as a gigantic eclipse computer.
—David Szondy
june 28, New Atlas, 28 June 2025
For most of the 21st century many evolutionary biologists have assumed that humans evolved at a leisurely pace in recent millennia, in contrast to the dramatic transformations that occurred earlier in our prehistory.
—Kermit Pattison, Scientific American, 20 May 2025
Researchers published their findings on April 9 in Nature, and argue that as much as a millennium’s worth of Maltese prehistory may warrant reevaluation.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prehistory
Cite this Entry
“Prehistory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prehistory. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prehistory
noun
pre·his·to·ry
(ˈ)prē-ˈhis-t(ə-)rē
: the study of prehistoric man
prehistorian
noun
ˌprē-(h)is-ˈtōr-ē-ən
-ˈtȯr-
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