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

Some developers and red-team activities do focus on AI colonies. — Noah Giansiracusa, Time, 26 Oct. 2026

Without the possibility of peace, encounters between rival colonies may continue to trigger violent confrontations. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026

The wood is dark, evocative of the traditional First Period architecture of the early colonies. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026

The mollusks can form dense colonies that clog pipes, obstruct water flow and foul boat motors. — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Further testing by Carl Ross, director of development at the University of Iowa's Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing, found 13 colonies of bacteria in the sample. — Adam Yamaguchi, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

To be fair, some British ships were engaged in illicit trade in the Spanish colonies. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Oct. 2026

While more plentiful on Iceland’s Westman Islands or in Newfoundland’s Witless Bay, small colonies might be just a winding, scenic drive and a stroll away. — Alexandra Marvar, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026

Although iguana colonies remain relatively stable, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) still lists them as Vulnerable due to predators, mounting pollution issues, and cyclical El Niño events. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026