Primitive

Pronunciation
/PRIM-uh-tiv/
Category
Taxonomy
Singular
Primitive
Plural
Primitives

Definition

Descriptive term used for species that are considered to be relatively basic or original in their evolutionary development.

Etymology

From Latin 'primitivus', meaning 'first' or 'original'.

Example

Some scientists classify certain dampwood termites as primitive due to their simple nest structure and limited social complexity.

Synonyms

  • Original
  • Basic

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