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

With a footprint equivalent to the largest pyramids of ancient Egypt, Cahokia’s colossal Monks Mound is the largest pre-Columbian structure north of central Mexico. — Joe Yogerst, CNN Money, 27 June 2026

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

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above