preindustrial
adjective
pre·in·dus·tri·al
ˌprē-in-ˈdə-strē-əl 
variants
or pre-industrial
1
: not having developed or adopted industry : not industrialized
preindustrial agrarian societies
preindustrial civilization
2
: occurring, existing, or originating before the development or adoption of industry
in preindustrial times
preindustrial levels of carbon dioxide
preindustrial artifacts
still made using preindustrial methods
also
: resembling that of preindustrial times
a return to a preindustrial way of life
Examples of preindustrial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Last year was the hottest on record, and global average temperatures passed the benchmark of 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial times for the first time.
—
Claire Brown, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed the record Friday, announcing that according to its analysis, 2024 was the first full year in which global temperatures exceeded 1.5 degrees C above preindustrial times.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
Last year was the first in which annual global average temperatures exceeded the aspirational Paris target of 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.
—Andrew Freedman, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
The organization's 2018 report on limiting global warming to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels boosted that goal's standing in international negotiations and helped spur a global youth protest movement to act more quickly.
—Maria Curi, Axios, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preindustrial
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Claire Brown, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed the record Friday, announcing that according to its analysis, 2024 was the first full year in which global temperatures exceeded 1.5 degrees C above preindustrial times.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
Last year was the first in which annual global average temperatures exceeded the aspirational Paris target of 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.
—Andrew Freedman, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
The organization's 2018 report on limiting global warming to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels boosted that goal's standing in international negotiations and helped spur a global youth protest movement to act more quickly.
—Maria Curi, Axios, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preindustrial
Cite this Entry
“Preindustrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preindustrial. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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