Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

prochronism

Noun

/ˌproʊˈkrɒnɪzəm/

Definition

An instance of attributing a thing to a time period earlier than it actually occurred.

Examples

The depiction of dinosaurs in ancient Egypt is an example of prochronism.
Some historical novels may fall prey to prochronism when they include technologies that did not exist at the time the story is set.
In the film, there was a prochronism when characters used modern slang in a setting from the 1800s.

Meaning

Prochronism refers to a chronological error where an event is placed in a time frame that is before the actual occurrence. It can also involve a person or thing being incorrectly dated to an earlier period.