Olmec

noun

Ol·mec ˈäl-ˌmek

ˈōl-

: an ancient people of the southern east coast of Mexico who flourished about 1200 to 400 b.c.

Etymology

Nahuatl Ōlmēcah, a coastal people in Aztec history, from Ōlmān, their homeland, probably from ōlli rubber

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of Olmec was in 1852

See more words from the same year

Style

“Olmec.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Olmec. Accessed 4 Feb. 2023.

Copy Citation

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY