prehistory: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Academic
Quick answer
What does “prehistory” mean?
The period of time before written records.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The period of time before written records.
The period before any recorded human events, or, metaphorically, a time considered remote, primitive, or poorly documented.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
None in core meaning or spelling. Differences may arise in specific archaeological period terminology (e.g., 'Palaeolithic' vs. 'Paleolithic').
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in academic and general formal contexts in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “prehistory” in a Sentence
the prehistory of [NOUN PHRASE]in prehistoryfrom prehistoryduring prehistoryVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “prehistory” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The software has been prehistoried; no one remembers its original code.
- They prehistoried the entire project archive during the office move.
American English
- That marketing strategy is so old, it's been prehistoried.
- We prehistoried those paper files years ago.
adverb
British English
- The technology felt prehistorily outdated.
- (Non-standard, highly metaphorical)
American English
- The machine ran prehistorily slow.
- (Non-standard, highly metaphorical)
adjective
British English
- The prehistory artefacts were carefully catalogued.
- He had a prehistory-level understanding of mobile phones.
American English
- The prehistoric/prehistory tools were displayed in the museum. (Note: 'prehistoric' is standard; 'prehistory' as adjective is non-standard/metaphorical)
- Their IT system is positively prehistory.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical, e.g., 'The prehistory of our corporate database is poorly documented.'
Academic
Standard archaeological/anthropological term, e.g., 'Recent findings have rewritten the prehistory of Southeast Asia.'
Everyday
Used to refer to a very long time ago or poorly remembered past, e.g., 'My knowledge of that software is from prehistory.'
Technical
Precise period defined by absence of written records in a specific region; sub-periods like Neolithic prehistory.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “prehistory”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “prehistory”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “prehistory”
- Using 'prehistory' to mean simply 'ancient history'.
- Spelling as 'pre-history' (hyphenated form is archaic).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Prehistory ended at different times in different regions when writing systems were developed independently (e.g., much earlier in Mesopotamia than in Scandinavia).
Yes, it's common to use it humorously or critically to refer to anything considered extremely old-fashioned or from a poorly documented past, e.g., 'the prehistory of computing.'
'Prehistory' is a period of time. 'Archaeology' is the scientific study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and analysis of artefacts.
Yes, 'prehistoric' is the standard adjective (prehistoric animals). Using 'prehistory' as an adjective (e.g., 'prehistory times') is non-standard and generally incorrect.
The period of time before written records.
Prehistory is usually formal / academic in register.
Prehistory: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpriːˈhɪst(ə)ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpriˈhɪstəri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Lost in the mists of prehistory”
- “A prehistory of [something] (metaphorical, e.g., 'a prehistory of the internet')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PRE-HISTORY: Think of 'PRE' (before) + 'HISTORY' (written records). It's the time BEFORE recorded history began.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A LANDSCAPE (The distant past is a faraway, obscure, and unmapped territory).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key defining characteristic of 'prehistory'?