preindustrial
|pre-in-dus-tri-al|
/ˌpriːɪnˈdʌstriəl/
before industry
Etymology
'preindustrial' originates from the Latin prefix 'pre-' (from Latin 'prae') meaning 'before' combined with the adjective 'industrial' (from French 'industriel' and Latin 'industria'), where 'industria' meant 'diligence' or 'industry'.
'preindustrial' was formed in English by attaching the prefix 'pre-' to the existing English word 'industrial'. 'Industrial' entered English via Old French 'industriel', which came from Latin 'industria'; the prefix 'pre-' comes from Latin 'prae'.
Initially it literally meant 'before industry' (i.e., before the development of industry); over time it has come to be used broadly to describe societies, economies, technologies, or conditions characteristic of the period before industrialization.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of the period before industrialization; existing or operating before the widespread adoption of mechanized industry.
The region remained largely preindustrial until the late 19th century.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/04 16:31