Standard Lemma guide

Olmec

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /ˈɒlmɛk/
  • US: /ˈoʊlmɛk/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A member of an ancient pre-Columbian people living in the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico, in what are roughly the modern-day states of Veracruz and Tabasco.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a member of an early Mesoamerican civilization centered around Veracruz that flourished between 1300 and 400 BC

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: Indian, American Indian, Red Indian

History

Etymology

From Nahuatl, meaning rubber lineage (compare Nahuatl olli (“rubber”)).

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: olmeca — member of an ancient pre-Columbian people
  • Finnish: olmeekki — member of an ancient pre-Columbian people
  • Hungarian: olmék — member of an ancient pre-Columbian people
  • Marathi: ओल्मेक (olmek) — member of an ancient pre-Columbian people
  • Spanish: olmeca — member of an ancient pre-Columbian people