prehistoric

adjective pre·his·tor·ic \ˌprē-(h)is-ˈtȯr-ik, -ˈtär-\

: of, relating to, or existing in the time before people could write

: very old or outdated

Full Definition of PREHISTORIC

: of, relating to, or existing in times antedating written history

: of or relating to a language in a period of its development from which contemporary records of its sounds and forms have not been preserved

: regarded as being outdated or outmoded <prehistoric attitudes>

— pre·his·tor·i·cal·ly \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See prehistoric defined for English-language learners

See prehistoric defined for kids

pre·his·tor·ic also pre·his·tor·i·cal \-i-kəl\

1832

Synonyms: antiquated, archaic, dated, démodé, demoded, fossilized, kaput (also kaputt), medieval (also mediaeval), moribund, mossy, moth-eaten, neolithic, Noachian, outdated, outmoded, out-of-date, outworn, passé, obsolete (also prehistorical), rusty, Stone Age, superannuated

PREHISTORICAL Defined for Kids

adjective pre·his·tor·ic \ˌprē-hi-ˈstȯr-ik\

: relating to or existing in the time before written history began <prehistoric animals>

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