colony

noun

ˈkä-lə-nē How to pronounce colony (audio)
Definition of colonynext
1
as in plantation
a settlement in a new country or region the early history of New York City when it was a Dutch colony

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in community
a group of people with a common interest living in one place New Hampshire's MacDowell colony was founded as a summer residence for writers and composers

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 colony This program teaches students the skills and knowledge needed to keep colonies healthy and productive year after year. — Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 In their tests, the prototype reduced spore colonies on a scrap of fabric by more than 75%. — Rahul Rao, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2026 One system adds two inputs together using 24 bacterial colonies. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026 The Treaty of Paris was signed between the American colonies and Great Britain, ending the Revolutionary War and officially recognizing the United States as an independent nation. — USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for colony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colony
  1. plantation
  2. community
  3. outpost
Noun
  • Indonesian police have arrested 72 people suspected of deliberately setting forest and peatland fires to clear land cheaply, as investigators probe whether plantation companies financed the fires.
    — Niniek Karmini, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Many let their plantations fall victim to rot; others abandoned cocoa farming altogether.
    — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of plantation
Noun
  • Owner Matthew Doeding aims to create a community third space for gamers to gather and play.
    — Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The hospital was run by Louisiana State University, which determined that Katrina left the building too damaged to reopen — an assessment that was disputed by some hospital staff and community members.
    — JACK BROOK, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of community
Noun
  • While Russia retains a presence, the era of it operating these as independent military outposts is over.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • But my four nights at the Ranch Hudson Valley, the East Coast outpost of the Malibu favorite, reveal that this is neither austere boot camp nor cutting-edge wellness clinic.
    — Johanna Wolfe, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of outpost

Browse Nearby Words

colonnades
colony
colophon
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Cite this Entry

“Colony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colony. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on colony

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about colony

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