time capsule

American  

noun

• time capsules
  plural

1. a receptacle containing documents or objects typical of the current period, placed in the earth or in a cornerstone for discovery in the future.

---

time capsule British  

noun

1. a container holding articles, documents, etc, representative of the current age, buried in the earth or in the foundations of a new building for discovery in the future

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• time capsules
  plural

Etymology

Origin of time capsule

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

time capsule

When travelers enter Dulles International Airport, they pass through a time capsule from the Space Age.

From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026

Americans living in 2276 will get a taste of what their ancestors today think best represents the nation thanks to a time capsule to be buried this July 4.

From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026

Magnason’s opening narration over spectacular footage of glaciers — up close and from far away — gently informs us that we’re watching a time capsule, one where the bonds of family and environment are intertwined.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026

America’s 250th anniversary planners had a seemingly simple mandate from Congress: Bury a time capsule in Philadelphia, with artifacts to be unearthed in another 250 years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026

You can see my little handprints grow bigger, like a time capsule of my life.

From "The Fourteenth Goldfish" by Jennifer L. Holm