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
If these nanotubes are already there, future lunar colonists might not need to bring expensive sensors or battery components from Earth.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Jan. 2026
Those colonists declared that the land was now theirs.
—Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
The Articles of Association of 1774 was signed by all 53 delegates urging colonists to boycott British goods, marking the Continental Congress's first protest against Britain.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
In the 1700s, Dutch settlers arrived at Kalk Bay, and it was later occupied by British colonists who turned it into a major whaling center.
—Kate Bartlett, NPR, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for colonist
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Jan. 2026
Those colonists declared that the land was now theirs.
—Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
The Articles of Association of 1774 was signed by all 53 delegates urging colonists to boycott British goods, marking the Continental Congress's first protest against Britain.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
In the 1700s, Dutch settlers arrived at Kalk Bay, and it was later occupied by British colonists who turned it into a major whaling center.
—Kate Bartlett, NPR, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for colonist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonist
Noun
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The horror-Western follows a settler family on a perilous journey across the Kalahari Desert in the mid-1800s.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2026
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But new research published Sunday in the journal suggests these settlers formed seafaring communities that existed for at least as long as the area’s polynya—a technical name for unfrozen water amid sea ice—indicating that humans have long had a hand in shaping the dynamic Arctic ecosystem.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Ivy Queen Reggaeton icon and pioneer Ivy Queen has performed with Bad Bunny on multiple occasions, with the rapper crediting the Queen of Reggaeton as a major inspiration.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
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Along with coaches George Halas, Clark Shaughnessy, and Ralph Jones, Luckman was a pioneer in the T Formation motion, with three running backs lined up behind the quarterback and a man shifting laterally and behind the line of scrimmage.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This program collects two mid-length documentaries by Raymond Depardon from the mid-1970s, inaugurating a career-spanning interest in former French colonial Africa.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
20 Jan. 2026
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The main five-bedroom colonial has a stone fireplace, water views, a new kitchen, and a pool.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonist. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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