colonial 1 of 2

Definition of colonialnext

colonial

2 of 2

noun

as in settler
a person who settles in a new region European colonials who built coffee plantations in East Africa

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 colonial
Adjective
Cobblestone streets and Spanish colonial landmarks give the compact downtown a European feel, anchored by the 17th-century Castillo de San Marcos overlooking Matanzas Bay. Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026 Adapted from colonial Hawaiian steel guitar and adopted by country musicians in the 1950s, the pedal steel is a remarkably versatile instrument. H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
The couple married in 2010 — shortly after Van Der Beek’s divorce from his first wife, Party of Five actress Heather McComb — and settled into a 3,100-square-foot Spanish colonial in Beverly Hills (James designed the poolside daybed himself, according to an Architectural Digest piece). Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 21 Feb. 2026 The city’s top attractions include riding the Cerro de Monserrate funicular to sweeping views and a 17th-century monastery, visiting the colonial La Candelaria neighborhood, and spending time in the Gold Museum, home to invaluable gold artifacts and insights on indigenous Muisca culture. Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for colonial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonial
Adjective
  • With messenger Mercury trining Jupiter, the Greater Benefic — with Mercury in your communication quadrant and Jupiter in your amicable 7th house — social exchanges carry extra goodwill.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
  • The company announced the news via a video and an official blog post on its social media handles.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The area was later named in his honor, as more settlers moved in.
    Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Volkspele were historical cosplay events for preteens, musical re-enactments of the Great Trek — the 19th-century migration of Afrikaner settlers away from British rule, heading inland in ox-wagons, that has been mythologized through tales of women and children crossing the Drakensberg barefoot.
    Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Embrace the slightly dystopian vibe and buy a bag of pellets from one of the old-timey pioneer stores to hand-feed the furry descendants.
    Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
  • The 1986 season boasted rock ‘n’ roll pioneers Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • This practice outraged the American colonists, who believed that general warrants enabled tyranny by empowering officers to enter homes and businesses at will.
    Amanda Cats-Baril, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2026
  • The Hopis and Zunis were part of the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, where Spanish colonists and priests were driven out of the pueblos of New Mexico and northeastern Arizona.
    Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 27 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Colonial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonial. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on colonial

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster