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
Recent Examples on the Web
In the antebellum United States, Northerners, and especially northern abolitionists, drew a contrast between (northern) nationalism and (southern) sectionalism.
—
Jill Lepore, Foreign Affairs, 5 Feb. 2019
The hometown of the Georgia Bulldogs transforms into a vibrant tapestry of colors during the fall, creating the perfect backdrop for exploring the town’s antebellum architecture.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2024
Witness Donald Trump recently questioning the racial identity of his opponent, Kamala Harris, a race-baiting potshot that dredges up ingrained prejudices against biracial Americans that stretch back to the antebellum South.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2024
Back in the antebellum United States, supporters of slavery fiercely resisted federal projects.
—James Morone, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2018
See all Example Sentences for antebellum 
Jill Lepore, Foreign Affairs, 5 Feb. 2019
The hometown of the Georgia Bulldogs transforms into a vibrant tapestry of colors during the fall, creating the perfect backdrop for exploring the town’s antebellum architecture.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2024
Witness Donald Trump recently questioning the racial identity of his opponent, Kamala Harris, a race-baiting potshot that dredges up ingrained prejudices against biracial Americans that stretch back to the antebellum South.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2024
Back in the antebellum United States, supporters of slavery fiercely resisted federal projects.
—James Morone, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2018
See all Example Sentences for antebellum
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'antebellum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near antebellum
Cite this Entry
“Antebellum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antebellum. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
antebellum
adjective
an·te·bel·lum
ˌant-i-ˈbel-əm
: existing before a war
especially
: existing before the American Civil War
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share