pre-Columbian
adjective
pre-Co·lum·bi·an
ˌprē-kə-ˈləm-bē-ən 
: preceding or belonging to the time before the arrival of Columbus in America
Examples of pre-Columbian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The building is certainly overstuffed—pre-Columbian artifacts, Chinese breezeway tiles, Indian chairs—but never stuffy, and often playful.
—
Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026
The festival is one of the clearest opportunities anywhere in the Americas to witness pre-Columbian traditions performed in their original setting.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
Built atop ancient pre-Columbian sites—such as Huaca Pucllana (a pre-Inca religious shrine), located in the center of the Miraflores neighborhood—the city blends deep Indigenous pasts with colonial and modern influences.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026
The home of the Mexico City Diablos Rojos rises from the ground like a pre-Columbian pyramid.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pre-Columbian
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026
The festival is one of the clearest opportunities anywhere in the Americas to witness pre-Columbian traditions performed in their original setting.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
Built atop ancient pre-Columbian sites—such as Huaca Pucllana (a pre-Inca religious shrine), located in the center of the Miraflores neighborhood—the city blends deep Indigenous pasts with colonial and modern influences.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026
The home of the Mexico City Diablos Rojos rises from the ground like a pre-Columbian pyramid.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pre-Columbian
Cite this Entry
“Pre-Columbian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pre-Columbian. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
