Olmec

O1L1M3E1C3
UK/ˈɒlmɛk/US/ˈoʊlmɛk/

noun

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.

OriginNahuatl olli →
UncommonScrabble 9
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Meanings

nounOlmec (plural Olmecs or Olmec)

plural Olmecs

  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.

Origin

  1. Nahuatlolli“rubber”
  2. EnglishOlmec

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

More words from Nahuatl

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan olmeca
  • olmecamember of an ancient pre-Columbian people
Finnish olmeekki
  • olmeekkimember of an ancient pre-Columbian people
Hungarian olmék
  • olmékmember of an ancient pre-Columbian people
Spanish olmeca
  • olmecamember of an ancient pre-Columbian people
Cite this entry
APA

Olmec. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Olmec

MLA

“Olmec.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Olmec. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Olmec,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Olmec.

Source: Olmec on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.