Aztec

noun

Az·​tec ˈaz-ˌtek 

1

a

: a member of a Nahuatl-speaking people that founded the Mexican empire conquered by Cortes in 1519

b

: a member of any people under Aztec influence

2

: nahuatl

Aztecan

ˈaz-ˌte-kən 

ˌaz-ˈte-

adjective

Examples of Aztec in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Performers are from Viet Steps, Bay Area Aztec Dancers and Sri Thillai Natya Palli Classical Dance School. —Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 13 July 2025

In June, Aztec Airways began offering flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to the Abacos. —Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 10 July 2025

To dozens of Indigenous cultures across the Americas, the coyote—whose name comes from the Aztec coyotl—is a hero, a thunder-bringer and dream-maker as well as mad trickster, lusty buffoon, and moral guide. —Helen Whybrow july 7, Literary Hub, 7 July 2025

Trustees approved an agreement for transitional kindergarten through second-grade students to occupy seven portable classrooms on the west Aztec campus. —Jim Drummond, Oc Register, 3 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish azteca, from Nahuatl aztēcah, plural of aztēcatl

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for Aztec

• breakneck
• codec
• exec
• mixtec
• paycheck
• pinchbeck
• recheck
• redneck
• toltec
• beck
• breck
• check

Kids Definition

Aztec

noun

Az·​tec ˈaz-ˌtek 

: a member of an Indigenous people that ruled a large empire in Mexico in the 15th-16th centuries