colonial 1 of 2

Definition of colonialnext

colonial

2 of 2

noun

as in settler
a person who settles in a new region European colonials who built coffee plantations in East Africa

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of colonial
Adjective
That’s a nod to another tradition that’s perhaps most exuberantly followed in the colonial city of Antigua, Guatemala, where miles of these carpets are created for Holy Week — twice on Good Friday. ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026 These are firms that have survived recessions, world wars, colonial collapses, and technological revolutions. Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
Also included for review were exhibits at the Annaberg Sugar Plantation, an 18th-century colonial site active during the Atlantic slave trade. Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026 The restaurant is named after the English word for bangla or a single-story home, coined during India’s colonial past to indicate a particular style of house that included spacious verandahs, overhanging roofs, and large gardens. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for colonial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonial
Adjective
  • Earlier thinkers, most famously Aristotle, had gone so far as to propose that eudaemonia was an inherently communal accomplishment, one that could only take root in the proper social and political context.
    Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Some Brookhill attractions include Inner Peaks Climbing Center, an indoor rock-climbing facility, Puttery, an indoor mini-golf bar for adults and bars such as Pins Mechanical, a social spot with a retro arcade and other games.
    Chase Jordan March 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Eyewitnesses said Israeli settlers set fire to homes, farming sheds and vehicles.
    Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
  • While Willick was there, some settlers drove by in a white pickup and smiled—including Levi.
    Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Long before federal regulations existed, the couple hosted the very first meeting to form the National Organic Standards Board right there at their ranch, gathering with other pioneers like the Lundberg family to create a unified standard.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Apollo's acquisition came after Verizon Communications bought Yahoo's online operations in 2017 and then bungled an attempt to blend those services into AOL, another internet pioneer.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The aiyi have sent an emissary to Scythia, who will determine whether the colonists deserve to survive.
    Stephanie Burt, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The colonists awoke from their dream of lucrative plantations to find churches in ashes and molasses cauldrons rusting in the grass.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Colonial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonial. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on colonial

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster