time capsule

noun

1

: a container holding historical records or objects representative of current culture that is deposited (as in a cornerstone) for preservation until discovery by some future age

2

: something resembling a time capsule

sunken vessels are archaeological time capsules

—Philip Trupp

Examples of time capsule in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Part fine art, part time capsule, the limited edition Ultimate Collection Super Deluxe box boasts revealing remixes produced by Sean himself, plus a treasure trove of puzzles, maps, replica art pieces, and a coffee table book — all contained in a 40-pound, 13-inch cube. —Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 25 Nov. 2024

Another astonishing time capsule captures a bruisingly ugly argument between the teenage Carten and her mother, traveling from the living room to the front yard, as brutal verbal attacks give way to physical blows. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024

Their relationships to their objects are immortalized and told in this time capsule as well. —Shelli Nicole, Architectural Digest, 25 Oct. 2024

In 1924, historians and museum curators banded together to bury a time capsule inside the Liberty Memorial, to be opened in 100 years. —Graham Hurley, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

time capsule

noun

: a container holding historical records or objects representative of current culture that is placed (as in a cornerstone) for preservation until discovery by some future age