Aztec

noun

Az·​tec ˈaz-ˌtek How to pronounce Aztec (audio)
1
a
: a member of a Nahuatl-speaking people that founded the Mexican empire conquered by Cortes in 1519
b
: a member of any people under Aztec influence
2
Aztecan
ˈaz-ˌte-kən How to pronounce Aztec (audio)
ˌaz-ˈte-
adjective

Examples of Aztec in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Why chia is a super seed The chia seed comes from the desert plant salvia hispanica, part of the mint family, and is thought to have its origins in Central America, where the seed was a staple in the Aztec diet. María Quiles, Vogue, 22 Mar. 2024 The 34 points are the most by an Aztec in Mountain West tournament history. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024 That happened when the expansionist Aztec Empire decided to re-engineer Lake Xaltocan for salt production in the 14th century and rendered its chinampas unusable. Chelsea Fisher, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2024 Like all the best slots for real money, Aztec Warrior also has a free spins feature, which is triggered by landing at least 3 Scatters somewhere on the reels. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 The Aztec Invitational included host SDSU, Houston, Long Beach State, Nebraska, UCLA and the University of San Diego. UC San Diego and Point Loma Nazarene also got to take the field for a game. Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024 Townsend, who based her work on Nahuatl-language annals or histories, aims to course-correct our understanding with a comprehensive study of the culture and civilization of the Aztec, or Mexica, people. Erik Pedersen, Orange County Register, 26 Jan. 2024 The temple was built between the 3rd century B.C.E. through the 9th century C.E., and dedicated to the Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 14 Feb. 2024 Opening Matches The opening match of FIFA World Cup 2026 will be on June 11, 2026, at Aztec Stadium in Mexico City. Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Aztec.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish azteca, from Nahuatl aztēcah, plural of aztēcatl

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of Aztec was in 1810

Dictionary Entries Near Aztec

Cite this Entry

“Aztec.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Aztec. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Aztec

noun
Az·​tec ˈaz-ˌtek How to pronounce Aztec (audio)
: a member of an American Indian people that founded the Mexican empire conquered by Cortes in 1519

More from Merriam-Webster on Aztec

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