neolithic
C1Formal, Academic, Technical, Figurative (informal)
Definition
Meaning
Relating to the later part of the Stone Age, when people began to farm, make pottery, and use polished stone tools.
Used figuratively to describe something that is extremely old-fashioned, outdated, or primitive.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is capitalized (Neolithic) when referring specifically to the archaeological period. The figurative sense is often used pejoratively.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. Spelling and usage are identical. The figurative sense is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
The same connotations of antiquity and primitiveness apply in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British media and academia due to the prominence of local Neolithic sites (e.g., Stonehenge).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
attributive adjective (Neolithic X)predicative adjective (X is neolithic)figurative: (as) neolithic as XVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not applicable for this term]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Figuratively: 'Their IT systems are positively neolithic.'
Academic
Common in archaeology, anthropology, history. 'The Neolithic transition to agriculture.'
Everyday
Rare for literal meaning. Common in figurative, pejorative sense: 'His views on gender are neolithic.'
Technical
Core term in archaeology with precise chronological and cultural definitions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
American English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not standard as an adverb]
American English
- [Not standard as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The neolithic settlement was discovered near the river.
- Their management style is utterly neolithic.
American English
- Neolithic artifacts were found at the dig site.
- The company's filing system is positively neolithic.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Too advanced for A2]
- People in the Neolithic Age started farming.
- This stone tool is very, very old.
- The Neolithic Revolution was a major shift from hunting to agriculture.
- His attitudes towards technology are almost neolithic.
- The excavation revealed a Neolithic long barrow dating back over 5,000 years.
- Critics dismissed the policy proposal as a neolithic approach to a modern economic problem.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'NEW stone' (neo = new, lithic = stone) but it's actually the 'newer' part of the Stone Age, coming after the Palaeolithic (old stone).
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS SPACE (a distant past). PRIMITIVE IS ANCIENT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'неолит' which is a technical term for a type of kidney inflammation. The Russian archaeological term is 'неолит' and is a direct cognate, but the figurative use is less established.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'neolitic' (missing the 'h').
- Incorrectly using it to mean 'very old' in a neutral, non-primitive sense (e.g., for a beautiful ancient vase).
- Using it as a noun (e.g., 'during the neolithic') without the capitalized 'Neolithic' or 'period'.
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative sense, calling someone's ideas 'neolithic' implies they are:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is capitalized when referring specifically to the archaeological period (the Neolithic Period). In the figurative sense, it is often lowercased (neolithic attitudes).
The Neolithic follows the Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age) and Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), and is followed by the Bronze Age.
Rarely. In its literal sense, it is neutral/academic. In its figurative sense, it is almost always a criticism, meaning primitive or backward.
The Palaeolithic was characterized by nomadic hunter-gatherers using chipped stone tools. The Neolithic is defined by the advent of agriculture, settled communities, pottery, and polished stone tools.