Primitive may refer to:

Mathematics

* Primitive element (field theory) * Primitive element (finite field) *

Primitive cell In geometry, biology, mineralogy and solid state physics, a unit cell is a repeating unit formed by the vectors spanning the points of a lattice. Despite its suggestive name, the unit cell (unlike a unit vector, for example) does not necessaril ...

(crystallography) * Primitive notion, axiomatic systems *

Primitive polynomial (disambiguation) In different branches of mathematics, primitive polynomial may refer to: * Primitive polynomial (field theory), a minimal polynomial of an extension of finite fields * Primitive polynomial (ring theory) In algebra, the content of a polynomial wit ...

, one of two concepts * Primitive function or antiderivative, ''F''′ = ''f'' * Primitive permutation group * Primitive root of unity; See Root of unity * Primitive triangle, an integer triangle whose sides have no common prime factor

Sciences

* Primitive (phylogenetics), characteristic of an early stage of development or evolution * Primitive equations, a set of nonlinear differential equations that are used to approximate atmospheric flow * Primitive change, a general term encompassing a number of basic molecular alterations in the course of a chemical reaction

Computing

Cryptographic primitive Cryptographic primitives are well-established, low-level cryptographic algorithms that are frequently used to build cryptographic protocols for computer security systems. These routines include, but are not limited to, one-way hash functions and ...

s, low-level cryptographic algorithms frequently used to build computer security systems * Geometric primitive, the simplest kinds of figures in computer graphics * Language primitive, the simplest element provided by a programming language * Primitive data type, a datatype provided by a programming language

Art and entertainment

* Naïve art, created by untrained artists * Neo-primitivism, an early 20th-century Russian art movement that looks to early human history, folk art and non-Western or children's art for inspiration * Primitivism, an early 20th-century art movement that looks to early human history, folk art and non-Western or children's art for inspiration *

Primitive decorating Primitive decorating is a style of decorating using primitive folk art style that is characteristic of a historic or early Americana time period, typically using elements with muted colors and a rough and simple look to them. Decorating in the primi ...

, a style of decorating using primitive folk art style that is characteristic of a historic or early Americana time period * ''Primitive'', a novel by

J. F. Gonzalez Jesus F. Gonzalez was an American author, primarily of horror fiction (writing under the pseudonym J. F. Gonzalez). He has written many notable novels and has done collaborations with Bram Stoker Award winners Mike Oliveri and Brian Keene. H ...

Music

* The Primitives, a British indie rock band * Primitive Radio Gods, an American alternative rock band

Albums

* ''Primitive'' (Neil Diamond album), by Neil Diamond 1984 * ''Primitive'' (Soulfly album), by Soulfly 2000

Songs

* "Primitive", by Accept from the 1996 album '' Predator'' * "Primitive", by The Groupies and covered by The Cramps * "Primitive", by Killing Joke from the 1980 album ''

Killing Joke Killing Joke are an English rock music, rock band from Notting Hill, London, England, formed in 1979 by Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), Paul Ferguson (drums), Geordie Walker (guitar) and Youth (musician), Youth (bass). Their first album, ''Ki ...

'' * "Primitive", by Cyndi Lauper from ''A Night to Remember'' * "Primitive", by Annie Lennox from the 1992 album '' Diva'' * "Primitive", by Róisín Murphy from the 2007 album '' Overpowered''

Religion

* Primitive Church, another name for early Christianity *

Restorationism Restorationism (or Restitutionism or Christian primitivism) is the belief that Christianity has been or should be restored along the lines of what is known about the apostolic early church, which restorationists see as the search for a purer a ...

, also described as Christian primitivism, is the belief that Christianity should be restored along the lines of what is known about the apostolic early church * Primitive Baptist, a religious movement seeking to retain or restore early Christian practices * Primitive Methodism

Other uses

Primitive (philately) In philately, primitives, also called natives, are postage stamps that were crudely designed and printed as compared with the sophisticated productions of industrialized countries such as the United Kingdom or the United States. A number of such st ...

* Anarcho-primitivism, an anarchist critique of the origins and progress of civilization *

Noble savage A noble savage is a literary stock character who embodies the concept of the indigene, outsider, wild human, an "other" who has not been "corrupted" by civilization, and therefore symbolizes humanity's innate goodness. Besides appearing in man ...

, a particular stock character in literature, i.e., a person uncorrupted by the influences of civilization * Pre-industrial society * Primitive communism, a pre-agrarian form of communism according to Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels *

Primitive Culture ''Primitive Culture'' is an 1871 book by Edward Burnett Tylor. In his book, Tylor debates the relationship between "primitive" societies, and "civilized" societies, a key theme in 19th century anthropological literature. Evolutionism Tylor's w ...

, an 1871 book by Edward Burnett Tylor. * Primitive Skateboarding, a company located in Los Angeles