colonist
noun
col·o·nist
ˈkä-lə-nist 
plural colonists
see usage paragraph below
: a member or inhabitant of a colony (see colony sense 1)
the Jamestown/Plymouth colonists
especially
: a person who migrates to and settles in a foreign area as part of a colony
Honeybees aren't native to North America; early colonists brought them over from Europe to provide honey and beeswax. —
Paige Embry
Paige Embry 
Usage of Colonist and Colonizer
Colonist and colonizer both have meanings closely tied to the word colonialism in its use referring to domination of a foreign people or area. Colonist, which comes directly from the noun colony, is the more common—and usually more neutral—term. Colonizer, which comes from the verb colonize, is used especially in contexts in which the exploitative nature of colonialism is being discussed or evoked; in phrases like "colonizer mindset/mentality" it implies a benefit from or even active participation in that exploitation.
Examples of colonist in a Sentence
British colonists settled the area in the 18th century.
over time the colonists began to sense that they were becoming a people unto themselves
Recent Examples on the Web
The church is where two lanterns were hung in the belfry on April 18, 1775, to warn the colonists that British troops were advancing by sea.
—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
Those in the know come for the raw bar—which is what colonists were noshing on (not hot dogs) during the nation’s birth, according to a recent NPR story.
—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Those colonists, though, wanted any of their children born overseas to retain European citizenship.
—
Julie Watson,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
In 1776, seafood such as rockfish and crab dominated the diets of many early colonists in Maryland.
—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for colonist
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Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
Those in the know come for the raw bar—which is what colonists were noshing on (not hot dogs) during the nation’s birth, according to a recent NPR story.
—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Those colonists, though, wanted any of their children born overseas to retain European citizenship.
—
Julie Watson,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
In 1776, seafood such as rockfish and crab dominated the diets of many early colonists in Maryland.
—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for colonist
Cite this Entry
“Colonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colonist. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
colonist
noun
col·o·nist
ˈkäl-ə-nəst
1
: a person who lives in a colony
2
: a person who takes part in founding a colony
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