Aztec

American  

[az-tek] / ˈæz tɛk /

noun

• Aztecs
  plural

1. a member of a Nahuatl-speaking state in central Mexico that was conquered by Cortés in 1521.

2. Also called classical Nahuatl. the variety of Nahuatl that served as the medium of Aztec civilization, aboriginally written in a chiefly pictographic script.

3. the Nahuatl language.

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Aztec British  

/ ˈæztɛk /

noun

1. a member of a Mexican Indian people who established a great empire, centred on the valley of Mexico, that was overthrown by Cortés and his followers in the early 16th century

2. the language of the Aztecs See also Nahuatl

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Aztecs, their civilization, or their language

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Aztecan
  adjective
• post-Aztec
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• Aztecs
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of Aztec

1780–90; < Spanish azteca < Nahuatl aztēcah, plural of aztēcatl person from Aztlān, the legendary place of origin of the Aztecs

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Aztec Aztecs

A centuries-old document telling the story of the Aztec civilisation and its fall after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in pictograms is going on display in Mexico for the first time in 186 years.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Spencer Schoenbaum was there celebrating his 29th birthday with friends — all of them wearing Bruin polo shirts and khaki shorts, as a nod to Aztec coach Sean Lewis’ statement about UCLA’s purported preppy fashion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

The adaptation resets Sophocles’ tragedy to Aztec culture in a transposition that is both visually and musically enlivening.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

From agricultural terraces to temple ruins under Mexico City to art collections and more, tourists can get a glimpse of Aztec life from 500 years ago.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Perhaps science was stillborn in Indian, Mayan and Aztec civilizations for the same reason it declined in Ionia, the pervasiveness of the slave economy.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

The pictograms in the Codex Boturini narrate the story of the migration of the Aztecs, also known as Mexica, from their ancestral homeland to the shores of Lake Texcoco, where they built Tenochtitlán.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

The Aztecs return their starting tailback from last season, Lucky Sutton, who rushed for 1,297 yards and 10 touchdowns, and added three running backs who contributed against Portland State.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026

Aztecs quarterback Jayden Denegal struggled in the opener, passing for 137 yards and an interception, culminating in a 46.8 rating.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026

The Aztecs had an unexpected passion for flowers, I learned, doused themselves in perfumes, wrote epic poetry and painted colorful frescos.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

When news spread of the gold of the Aztecs in nearby Mexico, farming could not hold the interest of Spaniards.

From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson

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