pre-Columbian
adjective
pre-Co·lum·bi·an
ˌprē-kə-ˈləm-bē-ən 
: 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
Corn is not only a staple food, but also a precious element in pre-Columbian rites that endures today.
—
Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Effigy Mounds preserves 200 or so prehistoric earthworks that were built by pre-Columbian people.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 19 Feb. 2025
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In southern Mexico, remote sensing technology has recently provided a snapshot of a 15th century archaeological site in its heyday, revealing a bustling city built by the pre-Columbian Zapotec culture.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 30 Jan. 2025
Archaeologists similarly used a drone to uncover the eroded remains of a large pre-Columbian earthworks buried beneath a field in southeastern Kansas.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2025
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Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Effigy Mounds preserves 200 or so prehistoric earthworks that were built by pre-Columbian people.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 19 Feb. 2025
Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
In southern Mexico, remote sensing technology has recently provided a snapshot of a 15th century archaeological site in its heyday, revealing a bustling city built by the pre-Columbian Zapotec culture.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 30 Jan. 2025
Archaeologists similarly used a drone to uncover the eroded remains of a large pre-Columbian earthworks buried beneath a field in southeastern Kansas.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pre-Columbian
Cite this Entry
“Pre-Columbian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pre-Columbian. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.
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