ENGLISH
REFERENCE

aztec

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈæzˌtɛk// aztec

adj. relating to the people and culture that lived in central Mexico before the Spanish arrived in the 1500s.

adj. relating to the Nahuatl-speaking people who established a vast empire in central Mexico during the 14th to 16th centuries.


SIMPLE

We saw many beautiful Aztec gold pieces at the museum.

CONTEXTUAL

The researchers studied the complex Aztec calendar to understand how the ancient civilization tracked the seasons.

COMPLEX

Archaeologists recently uncovered a series of Aztec ruins beneath the modern city streets, providing fresh insights into the architectural sophistication of the Triple Alliance.

Origin

Borrowed from Spanish azteca, from Classical Nahuatl aztēcah, plural of aztēcatl (“inhabitant of Aztlán”).

Usage

Often capitalised. While it can refer to the people as a plural noun, it is most frequently used to describe art, history, or culture.

© 2026 English Reference