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1. Dictionary

   prim·i·tive

   /ˈprimədiv/

   adjective

   • 1. relating to, denoting, or preserving the character of an early stage in the evolutionary or historical development of something: "primitive mammals" Similar ancientearliestfirstprehistoricantediluvianantiqueprimordialprimevalprimalprimaryloweroriginalproto-ur-rare:autochthonousautochthonicprimigenialOpposite modernrecentdeveloped
   • ▪ relating to or denoting a preliterate, nonindustrial society or culture characterized by simple social and economic organization: "primitive people" Similar preliteratenonindustrialpreindustrialundevelopedindigenousaboriginalsimpleunsophisticatedOpposite advancedliterateindustrial
   • ▪ (of behavior, thought, or emotion) apparently originating in unconscious needs or desires and unaffected by objective reasoning: "the primitive responses we share with many animals"
   • ▪ of or denoting a simple, direct style of art that deliberately rejects sophisticated artistic techniques: "the Fauves saw primitive art as a liberating force" Similar simplenaturalunsophisticatednaiveunaffectedundevelopedchildlikeinnocentartlessunpretentiousuntaughtuntraineduntutoredOpposite sophisticatedrefined
   • 2. having a quality or style that offers an extremely basic level of comfort, convenience, or efficiency: "the accommodations at the camp were a bit primitive" Similar crudesimpleroughbasicelementaryrough-hewnrudimentaryundevelopedunrefinedunsophisticatedruderough and readymakeshiftold-fashionedobsoletearchaicOpposite sophisticatedadvanced
   • 3. not developed or derived from anything else: "the primitive material of the universe"
   • ▪ denoting a word, base, or root from which another is historically derived.
   • ▪ (of an algebraic or geometric expression) from which another is derived, or which is not itself derived from another.
   • 4. (of a part or structure) in the first or early stage of formation or growth; rudimentary.

   noun

   • 1. a person belonging to a preliterate, nonindustrial society: "reports of travelers and missionaries described contemporary primitives"
   • 2. a pre-Renaissance painter.
   • ▪ a modern painter who imitates the pre-Renaissance style.
   • ▪ an artist employing a simple, naive style that deliberately rejects subtlety or conventional techniques: "the Catalan primitives"
   • ▪ a painting by a primitive artist, or an object in a primitive style: "Santa Fe style antiques and Mexican primitives"
   • 3. a word, base, or root from which another is historically derived.
   • ▪ an algebraic or geometric expression from which another is derived; a curve of which another is the polar or reciprocal.
   • ▪ a simple operation or procedure of a limited set from which complex operations or procedures may be constructed, especially a simple geometric shape that may be generated in computer graphics by such an operation or procedure: "the program includes a complete set of drawing primitives"

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘original, not derivative’): from Old French primitif, -ive, from Latin primitivus ‘first of its kind’, from primus ‘first’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. primitively adverb
   • 2. primitiveness noun
   • 3. primitivity noun

   Scrabble Points: 16

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2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › primitivePrimitive Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › primitive

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   1. a. : not derived : original, primary. b. : assumed as a basis. especially : axiomatic. primitive concepts. 2. a. : of or relating to the earliest age or period : primeval. the primitive church. b. : closely approximating an early ancestral type : little evolved. primitive mammals. c.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishPRIMITIVE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   relating to human society at a very early stage of development, with people living in a simple way without machines or a writing system: Primitive races colonized these islands 2,000 years ago. primitive man.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › primitivePRIMITIVE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › primitive

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   adjective. being the first or earliest of the kind or in existence, especially in an early age of the world: primitive forms of life. Synonyms: pristine, antediluvian, original, primordial, primary, primal, prehistoric. early in the history of the world or of humankind.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishPRIMITIVE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   Primitive means belonging to a society in which people live in a very simple way, usually without industries or a writing system.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › primitivePrimitive - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › primitive

   being or occurring at an early stage of development. adjective. used of preliterate or tribal or nonindustrial societies. “ primitive societies” synonyms: noncivilised, noncivilized. not having a high state of culture and social development. noun. a person who belongs to an early stage of civilization. synonyms: primitive person. see more.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › primitivePrimitive - definition of primitive by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › primitive

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   1. A person belonging to a nonindustrial, often tribal society, especially a society characterized by a low level of economic or technological complexity. 2. Derogatory An unsophisticated or unintelligent person.

8. en.wiktionary.org › wiki › primitiveprimitive - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

   en.wiktionary.org › wiki › primitive

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   Jun 17, 2024 · primitive (comparative more primitive, superlative most primitive) Of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first.

9. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishprimitive adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   very simple and old-fashioned, especially when something is also not convenient and comfortable synonym crude. The methods of communication used during the war were primitive by today's standards. The facilities on the campsite were very primitive. Transport remained very primitive.

10. www.britannica.com › dictionary › primitivePrimitive Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

    www.britannica.com › dictionary › primitive

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    PRIMITIVE meaning: 1 : of, belonging to, or seeming to come from an early time in the very ancient past; 2 : not having a written language, advanced technology, etc.

11. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › primitiveprimitive | meaning of primitive in Longman Dictionary of...

    www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › primitive

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    primitive meaning, definition, what is primitive: belonging to a simple way of life that e...: Learn more.