colonial

1 of 2

adjective

co·​lo·​nial kə-ˈlō-nē-əl 

-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

kə-ˈlō-nē-ə-ˌlīz 

-nyə-ˌlīz

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• gregarious
• sociable
• social

Noun

• colonist
• colonizer
• frontiersman
• homesteader
• pioneer
• settler

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

This work is woke, assert activists from Restore Trust, a campaign group founded following the publication of a National Trust report in September 2020 about the links between some of the National Trust’s properties and Britain’s colonial history, including connections to the Atlantic slave trade. —Carlton Reid, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

The demand for former colonial powers such as Britain to pay reparations or make other amends for slavery and its legacies today is a longstanding one, but has gained momentum worldwide, particularly among the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African Union. —Reuters, NBC News, 25 Oct. 2024

Noun

And much like the city itself, Boston’s top hotels effortlessly blend the colonial past with its cosmopolitan present. —Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024

Ideal for water drainage as well as ventilation, this traditional style can brave rainy and snowy climates and is best suited for homes with traditional architecture styles like colonials or farmhouses. —Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing colonial

• anti-colonial
• inter-colonial
• pre-colonial
• settler colonial

Kids Definition

colonial

1 of 2 adjective

co·​lo·​nial kə-ˈlō-nē-əl 

-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

: colonist sense 1