primitive

3 definitions • 6 examples

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

The spiny anteater is a mammal, although a very primitive one.

Primitive living conditions are basic, unpleasant, and uncomfortable:

Early settlers had to cope with very primitive living conditions.

of or typical of an early stage of development; not advanced or complicated in structure:

primitive art/tools

The pioneers who settled the west had to cope with primitive living conditions.