aztecs
|az-tecs|
/ˈæztɛks/
(Aztec)
Ancient Mexican civilization
Etymology
'aztec' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'azteca', which comes from Nahuatl 'Aztecatl' meaning 'person from Aztlán'.
'aztec' came into English via Spanish 'azteca', which in turn derives from the Nahuatl word 'Aztecatl'; the Spanish form was adopted into English as 'Aztec' in modern usage.
Initially it meant 'a person from Aztlán', the legendary homeland; over time it came to denote the specific historical people and their civilization (the Aztec Empire).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the Nahua people of central Mexico, especially those of the 14th–16th centuries who founded the Aztec Empire.
The aztecs built the city of Tenochtitlan on an island in Lake Texcoco.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the civilization, culture, or empire associated with those people (often called the Aztec Empire).
The aztecs established a powerful empire in central Mexico before the Spanish arrival.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/08 13:20