prehistoric
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to the time or a period prior to recorded history.
The dinosaur is a prehistoric beast.
-
Slang. outdated; passé.
My mom has these prehistoric ideas about proper dress.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- prehistorically adverb
Etymology
Origin of prehistoric
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Wouldn’t you want to hang out with the guy unabashedly wearing a hat with a prehistoric creature bursting out of each end?
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026
They featured detailed drawings of various ancient fossils and prehistoric creatures, whose origins were beginning to be studied and understood by scientists at the time.
From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026
The toothless bottom-feeder, which looks like a prehistoric catfish and can weigh over 200 pounds, has been overfished globally.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026
"Finding traces of the same poison on both prehistoric and historical arrowheads was crucial," says Professor Sven Isaksson.
From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026
The most important thing to know about prehistoric humans is that they were insignificant animals with no more impact on their environment than gorillas, fireflies or jellyfish.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
