Mogollon

noun

Mo·​go·​llon ˌmə-gə-ˈyōn How to pronounce Mogollon (audio)
ˌmō-
: a prehistoric Indigenous people inhabiting the mountains of eastern Arizona and western New Mexico
Above the creek, ancestral Puebloans, known as Mogollon, once lived. … The Mogollon abandoned these canyons in the 15th century, perhaps done in by an extended drought.—Jim Robbins
also : the culture of the Mogollon
Meanwhile, in the south, a Puebloan culture called Mogollon took hold. Over time, Mogollon kivas grew smaller, rectangular and even more private. —Annalee Newitz

Examples of Mogollon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Native people belonging to the Acoma Pueblo tribe who live there today are believed to have descended from early Puebloans, Mogollon and other ancient peoples. — Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2025 Wind alerts are in place for the following areas: Arizona: In regions including the Little Colorado River Valley, the Kaibab Plateau and the Mogollon Rim. — Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025 Far above, and many miles away, a thin strip of white cloaked the topmost pinnacles of Mogollon Baldy — all that remained of the season’s first snow. — Percy Brown, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2025 Thus, the way people say the names of places like Casa Grande or Ajo or Tempe or Mogollon or even Mesa can vary, especially between people who grew up in Arizona and people who moved here. — Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Mogollon

Word History

Etymology

Mogollon, mountain range and plateau in New Mexico

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Mogollon was in 1855

Browse Nearby Words

mogo
Mogollon
Mogollon Mountains
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mogollon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mogollon. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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