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Synonyms

prehistory

American  
[pree-his-tuh-ree, -his-tree] / priˈhɪs tə ri, -ˈhɪs tri /

noun

plural

prehistories

  1. human history in the period before recorded events, known mainly through archaeological discoveries, study, research, etc.; history of prehistoric humans.

  2. a history of the events or incidents leading to a crisis, situation, or the like.

prehistory British  
/ priːˈhɪstərɪ, ˌpriːhɪˈstɔːrɪən /

noun

  1. the prehistoric period

  2. the study of this period, relying entirely on archaeological evidence

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • prehistorian noun

Etymology

Origin of prehistory

First recorded in 1870–75; pre- + history

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.

Apparently, this sunbathed land was as popular with interlopers in prehistory as it is now, and Portugal still boasts a large share of archaeological evidence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Overall, the findings suggest that relationships between humans and wolves in prehistory were far more varied than once thought.

From Science Daily • Dec. 29, 2025

A spokesperson said the discoveries had helped shed light on how the caves were used by those who lived and farmed in the Dales prehistory.

From BBC • Aug. 4, 2025

For prehistory fans, the Miocene, with its fantastic mammal life, is an immensely attractive period.

From Salon • Feb. 17, 2025

This is the true length of human history; before that there were two million years of prehistory.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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.