time immemorial

American  

noun

1. Also called time out of mind.  time in the distant past beyond memory or record.

   Those carvings have been there from time immemorial.

2. Law. time beyond legal memory, fixed by statute in England as prior to the beginning of the reign of Richard I (1189).

---

time immemorial British  

noun

1. the distant past beyond memory or record

2. law time beyond legal memory, fixed by English statute as before the reign of Richard I (1189)

---

time immemorial Idioms  

1. Also, time out of mind. Long ago, beyond memory or recall, as in These ruins have stood here since time immemorial, or His office has been on Madison Avenue for time out of mind. The first expression comes from English law, where it signifies “beyond legal memory,” specifically before the reign of Richard I (1189–1199), fixed as the legal limit for bringing certain kinds of lawsuit. By about 1600 it was broadened to its present sense of “a very long time ago.” The variant, first recorded in 1432, uses mind in the sense of “memory” or “recall.”

---

Etymology

Origin of time immemorial

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

The future promised by AI is exciting and lucrative, but there is something to be said for investors flocking to an asset that has been treasured since time immemorial.

From Barron's • Dec. 23, 2025

A private island passed by boaters and rowers on the Thames since time immemorial has gone up for sale.

From BBC • Oct. 21, 2025

But the film, which hit theaters this Friday, is an attempt to upend many of the narrative tropes that have defined stories about disfigured and disabled people since time immemorial.

From Salon • Sep. 21, 2024

“In the past, we’ve tried to get all of the parties to the table to secure water rights, which since time immemorial we’ve had to fight for,” Curley says.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2024

But old Grandma always used to say, “Back in time immemorial, things were different, the animals could talk to human beings and many magical things still happened.”

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko