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
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Inspired by both pre-Columbian cultures and modern scientific theories, Jensen made energetic diagrams of shapes, symbols, and numbers in loud complementary colors, using thick globs of paint; the results generate a fascinating friction.
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Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
High school students are likely to learn about the Inca, Maya and Aztec civilizations as representatives of pre-Columbian Latin America.
—Ana L. Ros, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
His works are inspired by pre-Columbian traditions and Mayan Revival architecture, which he was surrounded by during a residency at the Maitland Art Center.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Ancient petroglyphs of human figures and cryptic symbols thought to have been scrawled by the Taino, the islands’ pre-Columbian inhabitants, appeared under our flashlight beams.
—Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
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Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
High school students are likely to learn about the Inca, Maya and Aztec civilizations as representatives of pre-Columbian Latin America.
—Ana L. Ros, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
His works are inspired by pre-Columbian traditions and Mayan Revival architecture, which he was surrounded by during a residency at the Maitland Art Center.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Ancient petroglyphs of human figures and cryptic symbols thought to have been scrawled by the Taino, the islands’ pre-Columbian inhabitants, appeared under our flashlight beams.
—Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 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 16 Feb. 2026.
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