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noun

caveman

KAYV-man

Caveman (noun) means a prehistoric human popularly imagined as living in caves. Example: “The museum exhibit showed how cavemen made tools from stone.”

noun
1
A prehistoric human popularly imagined as living in caves.
"The museum exhibit showed how cavemen made tools from stone."
2
Informally, someone seen as crude, old-fashioned, or unrefined in their attitudes.
"He still has caveman views about who should do the housework."

How to use caveman

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA prehistoric cave-dweller, or, informally, someone with crude or outdated attitudes.

Common pairings
caveman diet act like a caveman caveman mentality

Word forms

cavemen plural

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He still has _____ views about who should do the housework.

Etymology

From cave + man, based on the idea that early humans lived in caves.

male chauvinist Neanderthal

Related words

Rhymes for caveman

See all rhymes for caveman →

Frequently asked questions

What does “caveman” mean?

The word “caveman” means a prehistoric human popularly imagined as living in caves. In plain terms, a prehistoric cave-dweller, or, informally, someone with crude or outdated attitudes.

How do you pronounce “caveman”?

“Caveman” is pronounced KAYV-man (/ˈkeɪvˌmæn/ in IPA).

How do you use “caveman” in a sentence?

Here is “caveman” used in a sentence: “He still has caveman views about who should do the housework.”

What is another word for “caveman”?

Words with a similar meaning to “caveman” include male chauvinist and Neanderthal.

What part of speech is “caveman”?

“Caveman” is a noun.

How many meanings does “caveman” have?

“Caveman” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a prehistoric human popularly imagined as living in caves.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial