Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

prehistory

noun

/priːˈhɪs.tər.i/

Definition

The period of time before written records were kept.

Examples

The study of prehistory has revealed much about early human societies.
Archaeologists look for artifacts to learn about prehistory.
Many ancient structures date back to the prehistory, long before civilizations were documented.

Meaning

Prehistory refers to events that happened before the advent of writing, which means there are no written documents to provide a definitive record of past events, cultures, or people.