Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

colonia

noun
Save Word
co·​lon·​ia | \ kōˈlōnyä \
plural -s

Definition of colonia

: an unincorporated settlement (as of Mexican-Americans or Mexicans) in the U.S. usually near the Mexican border that typically has poor services and squalid conditions

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for colonia

Mexican Spanish, suburb, from Spanish, colony, residential development, from Latin

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about colonia

Statistics for colonia

Cite this Entry

“Colonia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colonia. Accessed 13 Jul. 2020.

More from Merriam-Webster on colonia

Spanish Central: Translation of colonia

Comments on colonia

What made you want to look up colonia? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

parsimonious

Listen to the pronunciation of parsimonious

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a closeup of a sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games