definitions

preatomic

[ pree-uh-tom-ik ]
/ ˌpri əˈtɒm ɪk /
|

adjective

of or relating to the period of history preceding the atomic age.

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Nearby words

preantiseptic, preappoint, prearrange, prearranged, preaseptic, preatomic, preaudit, preautomatic pause, preaxial, prebasic molt, prebend

Origin of preatomic

First recorded in 1910–15; pre- + atomic
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pre-atomic

  • Well, as a race, so did we until only a few centuries pre-atomic.

    Oomphel in the Sky|Henry Beam Piper

  • There was an ancient word, originating in one of the lost languages of Pre-Atomic Terra—sixtifor.

    A Slave is a Slave|Henry Beam Piper

  • But Lenin was a pre-atomic man, who viewed society and history with pre-atomic eyes.

    State of the Union Addresses of Harry S. Truman|Harry S. Truman

  • They were like the wolf of pre-atomic days who huffed and puffed to blow the house down.

    Acid Bath|Vaseleos Garson