as in settler
a person who settles in a new region
over time the colonists began to sense that they were becoming a people unto themselves
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Recent Examples of colonist
Salt Cay’s biggest industry (salt production) began in the late 1600s, when British colonists from Bermuda developed the salinas (salt ponds) and the infrastructure.
—
Peter Kelly, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2025
Kruger was determined to establish a strong republic controlled by Afrikaners [South Africans descended from Dutch colonists].
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 Aug. 2025
Since the condition of the Royal Navy was of prime importance to the British Parliament, during the colonial era that body passed several acts that sought to entice or compel colonists in British North America to produce naval stores for the benefit of the mother country.
—Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
The Robinsons, a family of space colonists leave an over-populated Earth in search of a new world.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colonist
Peter Kelly, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2025
Kruger was determined to establish a strong republic controlled by Afrikaners [South Africans descended from Dutch colonists].
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 Aug. 2025
Since the condition of the Royal Navy was of prime importance to the British Parliament, during the colonial era that body passed several acts that sought to entice or compel colonists in British North America to produce naval stores for the benefit of the mother country.
—Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
The Robinsons, a family of space colonists leave an over-populated Earth in search of a new world.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colonist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonist
Noun
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Moreover, since quaggas were considered to be in competition with other domestic South African animals, quaggas were hunted in excess by both settlers and Afrikaners.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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The settlers, their military escorts and 1,000 head of livestock traveled about 1,200 miles across rugged wilderness for about 5 1/2 months to forts and missions.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Settled by Mormon pioneers in the 1880s, Torrey is said to have been named after one of Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders, Colonel Torrey.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Sep. 2025
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The group had already connected itself to the Black Sabbath smash via tons of live performances, and thankfully, the fans of the heavy metal pioneers were able to work with the Prince of Darkness before his death in July of this year – and fans may get to hear the cut soon.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But Danish colonial authority – now focused mainly on foreign, defense and economic policy – is facing an unprecedented challenge, and the Scandinavian kingdom is at pains to underline and maintain its military control.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
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Whose idea was this, and what kinds of settler-colonial relations does this mock holdup invert?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Colonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonist. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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