adj
Neolithic
nee-uh-LIHTH-ihk
Neolithic (adj) means relating to the New Stone Age, the late prehistoric period marked by the rise of farming and polished stone tools. Example: “Archaeologists uncovered a neolithic settlement with early farming tools.”
adj
1
Relating to the New Stone Age, the late prehistoric period marked by the rise of farming and polished stone tools.
"Archaeologists uncovered a neolithic settlement with early farming tools."
noun
1
The New Stone Age period itself, or a person who lived during it.
"For the Neolithics, the stone was flint, and it's still impressive to see what they were able to achieve with it."
— Seán Lang, European History For Dummies (2011)
"The exhibit traces human development from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age."
How to use Neolithic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe era when humans started farming, building settlements, and using more refined stone tools, roughly 8500 to 4500 BCE.
Common pairings
the Neolithic era
Neolithic revolution
Neolithic tools
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Neolithic.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Neolithics
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Archaeologists uncovered a _____ settlement with early farming tools.
Etymology
Coined in 1865 by British scholar John Lubbock from neo- ("new") + -lithic ("of stone"), to distinguish the later, farming-based Stone Age from the earlier Paleolithic.
Class of 1865
Neolithic joined the language around 1865.
See the full Class of 1865 →
Frequently asked questions
What does “Neolithic” mean?
The word “Neolithic” means relating to the New Stone Age, the late prehistoric period marked by the rise of farming and polished stone tools. In plain terms, the era when humans started farming, building settlements, and using more refined stone tools, roughly 8500 to 4500 BCE.
How do you pronounce “Neolithic”?
“Neolithic” is pronounced nee-uh-LIHTH-ihk (/ˌni.oʊˈlɪθ.ɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “Neolithic” in a sentence?
Here is “Neolithic” used in a sentence: “Archaeologists uncovered a neolithic settlement with early farming tools.”
What part of speech is “Neolithic”?
Depending on how it is used, “Neolithic” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “Neolithic” come from?
The word “Neolithic” dates back to around 1865. Coined in 1865 by British scholar John Lubbock from neo- ("new") + -lithic ("of stone"), to distinguish the later, farming-based Stone Age from the earlier Paleolithic.
How many meanings does “Neolithic” have?
“Neolithic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the New Stone Age, the late prehistoric period marked by the rise of farming and polished stone tools.
