pre-Columbian

adjective

pre-Co·​lum·​bi·​an ˌprē-kə-ˈləm-bē-ən How to pronounce pre-Columbian (audio)
: preceding or belonging to the time before the arrival of Columbus in America

Examples of pre-Columbian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Its origins can be traced back thousands of years to pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, appearing in Mayan glyphs and documented in 16th-century accounts by Spanish missionaries in Central Mexico, who recorded tamales made with axolotl, tuna cactus (prickly pear), fish, and rabbit, among other variations. Cat Cardenas, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2024 Cacao was used by the pre-Columbian populations of the Maya and Aztecs, who venerated it as a sacred food. Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024 Zúñiga introduced her to pre-Columbian ceramic techniques and woodcarving. Shameekia Shantel Johnson, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024 Amaral’s unclassifiable work combines Modernist principles with pre-Columbian art and the vernacular traditions of her country. Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pre-Columbian 

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pre-Columbian was in 1854

Dictionary Entries Near pre-Columbian

Cite this Entry

“Pre-Columbian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pre-Columbian. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

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