Synonyms

prehistory

American

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

noun

plural

prehistories

human history in the period before recorded events, known mainly through archaeological discoveries, study, research, etc.; history of prehistoric humans.
a history of the events or incidents leading to a crisis, situation, or the like.

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.

“The Powerful Primate” becomes important when the author departs prehistory for modernity.

From The Wall Street Journal

"In London, you've got a lasagne. You can dig all the way down to prehistory or you've got very recent Victorian and Edwardian archaeology there as well."

From BBC

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

From Science Daily

Readers young and old will be treated to a host of information, from established details to new discoveries, from prehistory to the present.

From The Wall Street Journal

What made Europe’s fascination with its own origins, its “deep prehistory,” an opening to global modernity?

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023