What does cavemen mean?
Cavemen is the plural of caveman and most commonly refers to prehistoric humans as they were traditionally imagined living in caves. The image of fur-clad cave dwellers has strongly influenced popular culture, books, films, cartoons, and jokes, but it gives a misleading picture of human prehistory. Early humans lived in forests, grasslands, coastal areas, deserts, and many other environments, and they developed complex languages, tools, social relationships, and cultural traditions. Cavemen can also be used to describe men considered uncivilized or primitive, usually as a disparaging judgment about behavior or personal qualities. This older figurative use may be humorous in informal settings, but it is often insulting or inappropriate. In historical or cultural discussion, cavemen is more safely understood as a conventional popular label rather than an accurate scientific category.
nounThe plural form of “caveman,” commonly used for prehistoric humans traditionally portrayed as living in caves. Depending on context, it can also refer disparagingly to men regarded as uncivilized or primitive.
- Prehistoric humans, especially in the popular or historical sense of people believed to have lived in caves.
- Disparagingly, men considered uncivilized, primitive, or lacking modern social refinement.
"Popular culture often depicts cavemen as living in caves, though prehistoric humans inhabited a wide range of environments."
"The museum exhibit explains how the traditional picture of cavemen living in caves simplifies the diversity of prehistoric life."
"His dismissive attitude toward his colleagues made him sound like a caveman to his friends."
Cavemen is the irregular plural of caveman; “cavemans” is not standard.
"The novel imagines cavemen confronting the arrival of an unfamiliar civilization."
The famous cave-dwelling caveman is largely a popular image: prehistoric humans lived in many habitats, not simply in caves.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does cavemen come from?
Caveman combines “cave” with “man” and developed as a label for prehistoric humans imagined as living in caves. “Cave” comes through Old French from Latin, while “man” continues Old English mann. The compound belongs to the same broad root tradition as words such as cavern, cavity, and excavation, all associated with hollow or excavated places.
Related word forms
How cavemen is actually used
The prehistoric sense is dated and can be culturally insensitive because it portrays early humans as primitive cave dwellers. The sense meaning an uncivilized or primitive man is derogatory and is generally inappropriate in formal or respectful contexts.