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

Finding Chiron’s gas In the new study, a team used data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to study these TNOs that are a bit like floating time capsules. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 20 Dec. 2024

Activities include a countdown, balloon drop, make-your-own time capsules and noisemakers, drink specials and open play. —Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 17 Dec. 2024

Religious relics were placed inside the golden animal to serve as a time capsule, according to the Associated Press. February 2024 entailed the removal of the longstanding scaffolding on the structure, with the ensuing months marking the final stretch of the restoration. —Toria Sheffield, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024

These songs act as cognitive time capsules, evoking moments of heartbreak, discovery, and self-realization. —Diana Spehar, Forbes, 6 Dec. 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