colonial

1 of 2

adjective

co·​lo·​nial kə-ˈlō-nē-əl How to pronounce colonial (audio)
-nyəl
1
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony
colonial trade
colonial life
a colonial capital
The Haitian Revolution, led by self-liberated enslaved people against the French colonial government, was an early precursor to the abolition movements of the United States.Chadd Scott
: having the status of a colony
colonial territories
b
: possessing or composed of colonies
Britain's colonial empire
… when the United States became a colonial power, assuming control of Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Hawaii …Peter S. Canellos
2
or less commonly Colonial : of or relating to a period when an area is being colonized and especially to the period of European colonization in U.S. history between the early 17th century and the late 18th century
in colonial times
: such as
a
: made or prevailing during a colonial period
a town known for its Dutch/French/Spanish colonial architecture
colonial furniture
b
: adapted from or reminiscent of a mode of design from a colonial period
new homes built in the colonial style
3
: forming, existing in, or used by a colony
Though it may look like a tropical plant or colorful rock, coral is a colonial carnivore …Mark Derr
colonialize transitive verb
colonially adverb
colonialness noun

colonial

2 of 2

noun

plural colonials
1
: a member or inhabitant of a colony
British colonials in India
a rebellion of the colonials
2
a
: a product (such as a coin or stamp) made for use in a colony
b
or Colonial : a product exhibiting colonial style
especially : a house built in the neoclassical style of the American colonial period
LaMontagne said the homes will be two-story Colonials with attached garages and about three to four bedrooms. Mark Hayward

Examples of colonial in a Sentence

Adjective The country was a colonial power. a colonial nation and its colonial empire The book describes life in Colonial America. an example of colonial architecture The port had been very important in colonial times. Noun They bought a Colonial on a quiet street. increasing tension between colonials and the mother country
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Three scholars were awarded the Nobel prize Monday for helping explain why, showing that colonial societies built on extraction of wealth became poorer in the long run. Neil Irwin, Axios, 14 Oct. 2024 Today’s predator contests have deep, colonial roots in American history that date back to the frontier days of bounty hunting. Britta Lokting, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2024
Noun
After an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate in 1982, Hogan Sr. moved to the spacious colonial with columns on the front porch, nestled in the woods a stone’s throw from the I-270 highway that runs from the Capital Beltway outside Washington D.C. to Frederick. Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024 The big story No one is questioning India’s sovereignty, as the world’s largest democracy marks 77 years of independence from British colonial rule today. Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for colonial 

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

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of colonial was in 1764

Dictionary Entries Near colonial

Cite this Entry

“Colonial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colonial. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

colonial

1 of 2 adjective
co·​lo·​nial kə-ˈlō-nē-əl How to pronounce colonial (audio)
-nyəl
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony
2
often capitalized : of or relating to the original 13 colonies forming the U.S.
3
: forming or existing in a colony
colonial organisms
4
: possessing or composed of colonies
a colonial empire

colonial

2 of 2 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on colonial

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