Columbian

1 of 2

adjective

Co·​lum·​bi·​an kə-ˈləm-bē-ən How to pronounce Columbian (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to the United States
b
: of or relating to Christopher Columbus
2
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Columbia or the Columbia River

Columbian

2 of 2

noun

plural Columbians
: a native or inhabitant of Columbia

Examples of Columbian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The song, which hit No. 4 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, was the Columbian star’s first released in English. Bill Donahue, Billboard, 31 Aug. 2023 Their protest of the exclusion of blacks from the Columbian Exposition amounted to the argument that to erase the history of black accomplishment was to erase the history of America itself. William B. Allen, National Review, 28 July 2023 Ferris wheels have been turning for more than 130 years, the first one constructed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, designed by George Washington Gale Ferris. Roxana Saberi, CBS News, 2 July 2023 Trouble struck in 2013, when Speaks — then 23 — was sentenced to more than three years in prison for her role in a robbery near Clark County’s Vancouver Lake, The Columbian reported. oregonlive, 9 June 2023 The following year, the Westinghouse Corporation won approval to power the World’s Columbian Exposition with alternating current. Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 8 June 2023 Banner Park, off Columbian Street next to the former Massachusetts Lottery headquarters, is currently home to a 20,000-square-foot office building that would be demolished. Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, 2 June 2023 The first World’s Fair here, the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, was a miracle considering just 22 years earlier the city was in shambles following the Great Chicago Fire. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2023 The city’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 had a Women’s Building designed by a female architect, Sophia Hayden. Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Columbian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1757, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1824, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Columbian was in 1757

Dictionary Entries Near Columbian

Cite this Entry

“Columbian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Columbian. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.

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