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primitive
/ˈprɪmətɪv/
basic or early-stage
The expedition discovered a primitive shelter built from logs and leaves.
The team found a very basic shelter made from crude natural materials.
Technology
technical
A fundamental building block or basic data element that cannot be decomposed further.
In programming, an integer is a primitive data type.
In software code, a whole number is a basic built-in value type.
Used in computer science to distinguish simple predefined values from complex objects.
formal
Relating to the earliest stage of human, historical, or evolutionary development.
Early humans crafted primitive tools out of stone and bone.
Ancestral humans made basic early-stage tools from stone and bone.
When describing living human cultures, this term can sound outdated or offensive; modern scholars prefer 'traditional' or 'indigenous'.
formal
Simple, crude, or lacking modern sophistication.
The campsite had only primitive sanitation facilities.
The campsite possessed only very basic and unsophisticated toilets.
Collocations
primitive toolsbasic early-stage instrumentsprimitive instinctsfundamental natural urgesprimitive data typebuilt-in basic value type in codeprimitive conditionscrude or undeveloped living state
Pro Tip
Cultural Sensitivity vs. Technical Context
Replace 'primitive' with 'traditional' or 'indigenous' when talking about human cultures to avoid sounding biased, but feel free to use 'primitive' freely in computer science and biology.
Gold Rule
Identify the Domain
In technology, 'primitive' means 'basic built-in component'; in general speech, it usually means 'crude' or 'early-stage'.
Word Origin
From Old French 'primitif', from Latin 'primitivus' ('first of its kind'), derived from 'primus' meaning 'first'.
Usage Notes
Be careful when using 'primitive' to describe contemporary human groups, as it carries negative or patronizing connotations. However, in technical disciplines like computer science, biology, or mathematics, it is completely neutral and standard.
Word Breakdown
prim-
first
root-itive
having the quality of
suffixEnglish Dictionary