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
The famous real-life 19th-century racehorse Lexington is at the center of this expansive novel that travels fluidly between antebellum South and modern-day Washington, DC.
—
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
The partisan press of the antebellum and Civil War period tended to conserve the views of these factions.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
26 May 2026
A lot of old antebellum architecture, a lot of places to eat and shop and things to see and do.
—
AFAR Media,
15 May 2026
All that remains of this once-sprawling antebellum mansion are 23 Corinthian columns, rising unexpectedly from the forest.
—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for antebellum
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Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
The partisan press of the antebellum and Civil War period tended to conserve the views of these factions.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
26 May 2026
A lot of old antebellum architecture, a lot of places to eat and shop and things to see and do.
—
AFAR Media,
15 May 2026
All that remains of this once-sprawling antebellum mansion are 23 Corinthian columns, rising unexpectedly from the forest.
—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for antebellum
Cite this Entry
“Antebellum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antebellum. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
antebellum
adjective
an·te·bel·lum
ˌant-i-ˈbel-əm
: existing before a war
especially
: existing before the American Civil War
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