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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While some Black Americans had access to the ballot in the antebellum period, most, who were enslaved, did not.
—
Time, 12 Sep. 2025
The book, forthcoming in 2027, is not about Central Park, but about his early career as a roving pseudonymous correspondent for the then fledgling New York Times in the antebellum South, reporting (in part) on the physical structure of plantations.
—Chloe Schama, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2025
Making someone sign a permission slip is way too antebellum!!!
—Eleanor Dearman
updated August 19, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2025
The current main house was built in 1936 in Georgian Revival style replacing earlier structures but still maintains antebellum aesthetics with historic furnishings.
—Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for antebellum
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Time, 12 Sep. 2025
The book, forthcoming in 2027, is not about Central Park, but about his early career as a roving pseudonymous correspondent for the then fledgling New York Times in the antebellum South, reporting (in part) on the physical structure of plantations.
—Chloe Schama, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2025
Making someone sign a permission slip is way too antebellum!!!
—Eleanor Dearman
updated August 19, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2025
The current main house was built in 1936 in Georgian Revival style replacing earlier structures but still maintains antebellum aesthetics with historic furnishings.
—Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for antebellum
Cite this Entry
“Antebellum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antebellum. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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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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