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.

Examples of Olmec in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The bold colors and the imagery − from indigenous symbols such as the Aztec calendar, pyramids, deity Quetzalcoatl and Olmec colossal heads to depictions of the Virgin Mary, Emiliano Zapata, Cesar Chavez and migrant fieldworkers − captivated him. — Andrés Soto, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026

Pacific peoples weren’t known to be strong on massive visages and the like, popular opinion suggested at the time, whereas groups like the Inca, the Olmec, and the Toltec were. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026

Tamales originated from Mesoamerican cultures– Aztec, Maya, Mixtec, Olmec, Toltec, and the Zapotec– who would make tamales for special occasions. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Dec. 2025

Educators will also teach visitors the history and science of how chocolate has been cultivated by multiple groups, including Olmec, Maya and Aztec people. — Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

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