Inca

noun

In·​ca ˈiŋ-kə How to pronounce Inca (audio)
1
a
: a member of the Quechuan peoples of Peru maintaining an empire until the Spanish conquest
b
: a king or noble of the Inca empire
2
: a member of any people under Inca influence
Incaic adjective
Incan adjective

Examples of Inca in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But new research has revealed that this unassuming plaza dates back nearly five millennia, to an era that far preceded the Inca and their predecessors, like the Wari and Chimú cultures. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 Depart for Ollantaytambo, one of the region’s most impressive Inca fortresses. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 7 Feb. 2024 Machu Picchu is one of those rare bucket list travel destinations that truly exceeded my expectations; the 15th-century Inca citadel is well-maintained and properly regulated by the Peruvian government to ensure travelers have an incredible experience. Kaitlyn McInnis, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2024 Spirit of the Inca and Aztecs Millions are the ones with the biggest rewards. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2024 Archaeologists think the girl was sacrificed during an Inca ritual called capacocha. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Oct. 2023 There were also traces of coca and alcohol, likely administered before Juanita's death—a common Inca practice when sacrificing children. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 28 Dec. 2023 Modern researchers believe the Inca used the terraced rings to acclimatize crops to different altitudes for their highly vertical empire. Simeon Tegel, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2024 Coca-Cola buys famous beverage brands everywhere in the world, from India’s Thums Up to Peru’s Inca Kola. The Editors, National Review, 22 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Inca.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Quechua inka ruler of the Inca empire

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of Inca was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near Inca

Cite this Entry

“Inca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Inca. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Inca

noun
In·​ca ˈiŋ-kə How to pronounce Inca (audio)
1
: a noble or a member of the American Indian peoples of Peru maintaining an empire until the Spanish conquest
2
: a member of any people under Inca influence
Incan adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on Inca

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!