Primitive Definition

prĭmĭ-tĭv

primitives

adjective

Of or existing in the beginning or the earliest times or ages; ancient; original.

Webster's New World

Of or relating to an early or original stage or state; primeval.

Life in the primitive ocean.

American Heritage

Characteristic or imitative of the earliest ages.

Webster's New World

Having developed early in the evolutionary history of a group.

Hair is a primitive trait of mammals.

American Heritage

Crude, simple, rough, uncivilized, etc.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

primitives

A person belonging to a nonindustrial, often tribal society, especially a society characterized by a low level of economic or technological complexity.

American Heritage

A primitive person or thing.

Webster's New World

An artist or a work of art that shows ingenuousness and lack of formal training.

Webster's New World

One that is at a low or early stage of development.

American Heritage

An artist or a work of art of an early, esp. preliterate, culture.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
primitive person
primitivism
aborigine
aboriginal

Other Word Forms of Primitive

Noun

Singular:

primitive

Plural:

primitives

Origin of Primitive

Middle English from Old French primitif, primitive from Latin prīmitīvus from prīmitus at first from prīmus first per¹ in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Old French primitif, from Latin primitivus (“first or earliest of its kind"), from primus (“first"); see prime.

From Wiktionary