Prehistoric

/priː.hɪsˈtɒr.ɪk/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

Relating to or denoting the period before written records.

The prehistoric era is filled with mysteries that scientists are still trying to unravel.

Referring to ancient times, especially before recorded history.

Archaeologists discovered prehistoric cave paintings that date back thousands of years.

Characterized by the absence of written language.

The prehistoric cultures relied on oral traditions to pass down their stories.

Relating to the remote past, especially before human history.

The fossil remains of that body suggest it lived in a prehistoric world, far different from ours.

Existing or occurring in a time before history was recorded.

The museum features a section dedicated to prehistoric animals that once roamed the earth.

From the Latin 'prae' meaning 'before' and 'historia' meaning 'history'.

prehistoric times

The period in history before written records.

prehistoric man

Refers to early humans before written history.

anthropology

The study of human societies and cultures and their development.

archaeology

The study of human history and prehistory through excavation and analysis of artifacts.

paleontology

The branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants.

Something outdated or very old.

That computer is prehistoric; it can't even run modern software.

Used to describe something that feels ancient in terms of relevance.

His fashion choices are so prehistoric.