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

They knock people sideways before receding into the ocean of imagination that’s existed since the first caveman looked up at the stars and said, “Funny story about those.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2025

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

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2024

That original “Ghosts,” with three seasons streaming on Max, features different but still recognizable archetypes: a caveman instead of a Viking; a World War II officer instead of a Revolutionary War soldier.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 20, 2023

“This way, when you go back in time, you can recognize people, so you’ll know who you’ve got to speak Neanderthal to, and who just uses regular caveman talk.”

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

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