primitive
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: primitives
Sense 1
An original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to derivative.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
A member of a primitive society.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first.
Adjective
Examples
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 4
Of or pertaining to or harking back to a former time; old-fashioned; characterized by simplicity.
Adjective
Examples
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “primitive” mean?
An original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to derivative.
Is “primitive” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.