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
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Recent Examples of colonies
Throughout 2026, Iowans will be celebrating 250 years since the 13 colonies declared their independence in 1776.
—
Des Moines Register, 7 Feb. 2026
The insects spend the majority of their lives hidden away inside their colonies, and generally only emerge to mate and migrate during swarming seasons in the spring and early summer.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
Typically, in late winter to early spring carpenter ants fly off to mate and start new colonies.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
But the economy of the British empire as a whole—Britain plus Ireland plus Canada plus Australia plus New Zealand plus South Africa plus India plus the other British dominions and overseas colonies—that entity remained the world’s largest economic unit until during the First World War.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Most of it describes 27 ways in which the 13 colonies believed King George III and the British Parliament were violating their liberties.
—Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
The Norse were Scandinavian Viking-era settlers who, led by Erik the Red from Iceland, established medieval farming colonies in southwestern Greenland around 985–986 CE, according to the Mariners' Museum and Park and other sources.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
Biogeography is key to the Galápagos, with the diversity of endemic species rather than the size of colonies being the big draw.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
Unchecked, imagine what the numbers of bee colonies will be like in 22 years?
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Des Moines Register, 7 Feb. 2026
The insects spend the majority of their lives hidden away inside their colonies, and generally only emerge to mate and migrate during swarming seasons in the spring and early summer.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
Typically, in late winter to early spring carpenter ants fly off to mate and start new colonies.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
But the economy of the British empire as a whole—Britain plus Ireland plus Canada plus Australia plus New Zealand plus South Africa plus India plus the other British dominions and overseas colonies—that entity remained the world’s largest economic unit until during the First World War.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Most of it describes 27 ways in which the 13 colonies believed King George III and the British Parliament were violating their liberties.
—Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
The Norse were Scandinavian Viking-era settlers who, led by Erik the Red from Iceland, established medieval farming colonies in southwestern Greenland around 985–986 CE, according to the Mariners' Museum and Park and other sources.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
Biogeography is key to the Galápagos, with the diversity of endemic species rather than the size of colonies being the big draw.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
Unchecked, imagine what the numbers of bee colonies will be like in 22 years?
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonies
Noun
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Early in the show, amid scenery that referenced plantations and colonialism, dancers dangled from utility lines in a reminder of the island’s fragile power grid.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
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Hot and dry forests become a tinderbox Record droughts and scorching temperatures created conditions conducive to wildfires in Chile and Argentina, the study found, while single-species plantations of highly flammable trees like pines helped the fires spread more easily in both areas.—
Isabel Debre,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Some religious communities bar menstruating women from common living areas, said Ahsan.—
Sana Noor Haq,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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Participants often come from various backgrounds, playing different styles of mahjong, such as Taiwanese, Filipino, Singaporean and American (commonly associated with Jewish communities), which — unlike other the styles — uses a card that is issued annually to set the winning hands for each year.—
Grace Hwang Lynch,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
After soaking in the history and charm of the Duomo, walk over to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the world’s oldest shopping emporiums with outposts from Prada to Gucci.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
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But the arduous effort may be essential for achieving longer stays in deep space—as well as building the lunar space station and surface outposts envisioned for future Artemis missions.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonies. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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