n.
Pronunciation: ' pri-m ə -ti- ˌ vi-z ə m
Function: noun
Date: 1861
1 : primitive practices or procedures also : a primitive quality or state
2 a : belief in the superiority of a simple way of life close to nature b : belief in the superiority of nonindustrial society to that of the present
3 : the style of art of primitive peoples or primitive artists
– prim · i · tiv · ist \ -vist \ noun or adjective
– prim · i · tiv · is · tic \ ˌ pri-m ə -ti- ' vis-tik \ adjective