caveman

British  

/ ˈkeɪvˌmæn /

noun

1. a man of the Palaeolithic age; cave dweller

2. informal a man who is primitive or brutal in behaviour, etc

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Explanation

In books or movies, a caveman is a character based on early prehistoric humans. Cavemen live in caves and hunt with simple weapons like rocks and clubs. You can also use caveman to refer to any crude and uncivilized guy — like your older brother who tries to impress dates with his belching skills. "The Flintstones" is a perfect example of a cartoon caveman stereotype—the characters live with dinosaurs and wear animal hides as clothing. In reality, the early humans who lived in caves and left behind Paleolithic cave paintings existed at a completely different time than dinosaurs. And scholars believe that most humans during this period lived in simple tents or other temporary structures.

Example Sentences

So why, in this glum post-“Walking Dead” era, awaken our much-loved caveman from a good death to such a miserable half-life?

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2026

“It was essentially a caveman carrying a club,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2024

"I gotta go into my cave and become a caveman," he told CBS news.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2024

The lobby was conceived as a tunnel, carved out of solid rock, its sidewalls polished, the floor worn smooth, and the ceiling incised and decorated as a civilized caveman might have done it.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 8, 2023

A caveman owned one spearhead or many spearheads; he had eaten one crushed lizard or many crushed lizards.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Related Words

• macho
• male
• manful
• manlike
• manly
• virile