Synonyms of colonies

colonies

noun

plural of colony

1

as in plantations

a settlement in a new country or region

the early history of New York City when it was a Dutch colony

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plantations
• outposts
• territories
• camps
• protectorates
• habitations
• possessions
• diasporas
• dependencies
• posts
• exclaves
• mandates

2

as in communities

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

• communities
• families
• societies
• companies
• troops
• circles
• coteries
• cliques
• bands
• sets
• clans

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of colonies

These pristine epicenters of biodiversity are teeming with life, from thriving coral reefs to sharks and seabird colonies. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026

The Urquharts first visited these colonies in 1976, and National Geographic published a cover story on their breakthrough. — Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026

That narrative, a history-deficient account, often failed to explain how one of the wealthiest colonies in the Caribbean was made poor. — Literary Hub, 27 July 2026

Golden mussels reproduce rapidly, forming dense colonies on underwater surfaces that can clog pipes, pumps and critical water infrastructure while disrupting local ecosystems. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2026

The approach is partly inspired by collective behavior found in nature, including bird flocks and insect colonies. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026

Queens in honeybee colonies and other eusocial insects use pheromones to keep worker daughters from developing ovaries. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026

Some species common throughout the region, including paper wasps and yellowjackets, become increasingly defensive as their colonies grow through late summer and early fall. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 17 July 2026

Under his leadership, the postal system proved indispensable during the Revolution, carrying military intelligence and news across the colonies. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 July 2026