prehistory
Americannoun
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human history in the period before recorded events, known mainly through archaeological discoveries, study, research, etc.; history of prehistoric humans.
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a history of the events or incidents leading to a crisis, situation, or the like.
noun
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the prehistoric period
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the study of this period, relying entirely on archaeological evidence
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of prehistory
Explanation
Prehistory refers to the period of time before civilization and writing. We don't know a lot about prehistory. Since pre means "before," and history is the record of human events, prehistory refers to the time before human civilization developed and started writing things down. Scientists often speculate about what happened in prehistory, which is also known as prehistoric times. When did spoken language develop? What was the first tool? What were families like? Scientists study fossils and artifacts to help them theorize about prehistory, because people weren’t writing things down during that time.
Vocabulary lists containing prehistory
The Origins of Civilization, Lessons 1–2
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The Stone Age - Middle School and High School
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: pre-
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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.
Rejecting science and his British masters, Tomás vows to record the true history and prehistory of his region as an act of “honour and resistance.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 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
Al-Shamahi takes her story up to the invention of writing, where prehistory may be said to end.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 16, 2025
For prehistory fans, the Miocene, with its fantastic mammal life, is an immensely attractive period.
From Salon • Feb. 17, 2025
While this book is thus ultimately about history and prehistory, its subject is not of just academic interest but also of overwhelming practical and political importance.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
