prehistoric
pree-hiss-TOR-ik
/ˌpriːhɪˈstɒrɪk/
Relating to the period before written records.
Can be used humorously to describe something very old-fashioned or out of date.
The story behind the word. A relatively modern word, coined in the mid-19th century as archaeology became a formal science. It literally means 'before history', based on the idea that 'history' only begins when people start writing things down.
Word relationships
- primeval: Suggests the very earliest stages of the world's existence.
- ancient: Refers to the distant past but usually includes recorded history.
- historic: Refers to the period of time for which we have written records.
Commonly confused with
- ancient: Ancient history is recorded; prehistoric history is not.
Word family
- prehistory (noun): The period of time before written records.
Collocations
- prehistoric times
- prehistoric man
- prehistoric art
Example sentences
- "Archaeologists discovered prehistoric cave paintings that date back over 30,000 years." Archaeological findings.
- "Dinosaurs are the most famous of all prehistoric creatures." Describing ancient animals.
Memory hook
PRE-history = BEFORE history (writing). Before the pen met the paper.
When not to use
Do not use for periods that have written records, even if they are very old (like Ancient Egypt).
Fun facts
- The 'prehistoric' period ended at different times in different parts of the world, depending on when writing was adopted.
Explore more words
archaic, fossil, primeval, anachronism, outdated, unprecedented
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