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 more than 10,000 works in the museum’s permanent collection include Greek and Roman antiquities, pre-Columbian sculpture, and European and American prints, photographs, and paintings.
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Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 9 Sep. 2025
Crystal Skulls Mystery Gleaming quartz skulls in major museums were once touted as pre-Columbian artifacts with mystical powers.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
With roots dating back to pre-Columbian civilizations in Mexico, they were kept as companions and even thought to guide souls in the afterlife.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
The Inca Empire in South America, one of the most powerful pre-Columbian societies, was known for many innovations — such as the architecture of Machu Picchu, an extensive road network, and a system of terraces for agriculture.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 13 Aug. 2025
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Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 9 Sep. 2025
Crystal Skulls Mystery Gleaming quartz skulls in major museums were once touted as pre-Columbian artifacts with mystical powers.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
With roots dating back to pre-Columbian civilizations in Mexico, they were kept as companions and even thought to guide souls in the afterlife.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
The Inca Empire in South America, one of the most powerful pre-Columbian societies, was known for many innovations — such as the architecture of Machu Picchu, an extensive road network, and a system of terraces for agriculture.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 13 Aug. 2025
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 17 Sep. 2025.
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