1. not derived original, primary
2. assumed as a basis especially axiomatic
primitive concepts
3. of or relating to the earliest age or period primeval
the primitive church
4. closely approximating an early ancestral type little evolved
primitive mammals
5. belonging to or characteristic of an early stage of development crude, rudimentary
primitive technology
6. of, relating to, or constituting the assumed parent speech of related languages
primitive Germanic
7. elemental, natural
our primitive feelings of vengeance
— John Mackwood
8. of, relating to, or produced by a people or culture that is nonindustrial and often nonliterate and tribal
primitive art
9. naive
10. self-taught, untutored
primitive craftsmen
11. produced by a self-taught artist
a primitive painting
12. something primitive specifically a primitive idea, term, or proposition
13. a root word
14. an artist of an early period of a culture or artistic movement
15. a later imitator or follower of such an artist
16. a self-taught artist
17. an artist whose work is marked by directness and na?veté
18. a work of art produced by a primitive artist
19. a typically rough or simple usually handmade and antique home accessory or furnishing
20. a member of a primitive people
21. an unsophisticated person
22. of, belonging to, or seeming to come from an early time in the very ancient past
23. not having a written language, advanced technology, etc.
24. very simple and basic made or done in a way that is not modern and that does not show much skill
25. an artist who makes art in a simple style that is childlike also the art made by such an artist
26. someone who belongs to a primitive society
27. of or belonging to very early times
primitive cultures
28. of or belonging to an early stage of development
primitive tools
29. closely approximating an early ancestral type little evolved
30. belonging to or characteristic of an early stage of development
primitive cells