Meanings
Columbian Exchange1
alternative Columbian exchange
- The widespread transfer of animals, plants, culture, human populations, communicable diseases, technology and ideas between the American and Afro-Eurasian hemispheres in the 15th and 16th centuries, related to European colonization and trade after Christopher Columbus' 1492 voyage.
Synonyms: Grand Exchange
Columbian exchange2
- Alternative letter-case form of Columbian Exchange.
Synonyms & antonyms
proper nounThe widespread transfer of animals, plants, culture, human populations, communicable diseases, technology and ideas between the American and Afro-Eurasian hemispheres in the 15th and 16th centuries, related to European colonization and trade after Christopher Columbus' 1492 voyage.
Origin
First used in 1972 by American historian Alfred W. Crosby, in his eponymous work of environmental history, thereafter rapidly being adopted by other historians and journalists.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 哥倫布大交換 /哥伦布大交换
- 哥倫布大交換 /哥伦布大交换 (Gēlúnbù dàjiāohuàn)widespread transfer of animals and plants between the American and Afro-Eurasian hemispheres
Finnish kolumbiaaninen vaihto
- kolumbiaaninen vaihtowidespread transfer of animals and plants between the American and Afro-Eurasian hemispheres
Hindi कोलम्बियाई विनिमय
- कोलम्बियाई विनिमय (kolambiyāī vinimay)widespread transfer of animals and plants between the American and Afro-Eurasian hemispheres
Japanese コロンブス交換
- コロンブス交換widespread transfer of animals and plants between the American and Afro-Eurasian hemispheres
Portuguese Intercâmbio Colombiano, Troca Colombiana
- Intercâmbio Colombianowidespread transfer of animals and plants between the American and Afro-Eurasian hemispheres
- Troca Colombianawidespread transfer of animals and plants between the American and Afro-Eurasian hemispheres
Russian колу́мбов обме́н
- колу́мбов обме́н (kolúmbov obmén)widespread transfer of animals and plants between the American and Afro-Eurasian hemispheres
Spanish intercambio colombino
- intercambio colombinowidespread transfer of animals and plants between the American and Afro-Eurasian hemispheres
Cite this entry
Columbian Exchange. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Columbian%20Exchange
“Columbian Exchange.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Columbian%20Exchange. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Columbian Exchange,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Columbian%20Exchange.
Source: Columbian Exchange on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.