antebellum
adjective
an·te·bel·lum
ˌan-ti-ˈbe-ləm 
: existing before a war
especially
: existing before the American Civil War
antebellum houses
the antebellum South
Examples of antebellum in a Sentence
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Finally, Joseph Hayne Rainey, Robert Smalls, and George Washington Murray shared the more common Black experience in antebellum South Carolina; they were born enslaved.
—
CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
An antebellum schoolbook that became an instrument of Black liberation.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Originally a staple of antebellum cooking, this dish became a promise of prosperity when served for the New Year.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026
The South Carolina Historical Society, a private institution founded in 1855, is the first stop for researchers seeking information about the antebellum period.
—Eugene Robinson, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antebellum
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CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
An antebellum schoolbook that became an instrument of Black liberation.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Originally a staple of antebellum cooking, this dish became a promise of prosperity when served for the New Year.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026
The South Carolina Historical Society, a private institution founded in 1855, is the first stop for researchers seeking information about the antebellum period.
—Eugene Robinson, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antebellum
Cite this Entry
“Antebellum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antebellum. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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antebellum
adjective
an·te·bel·lum
ˌant-i-ˈbel-əm
: existing before a war
especially
: existing before the American Civil War
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