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
Under Tempe city code, property owners are responsible for addressing health or safety hazards on their property, including unmanaged bee colonies, according to the city.
—
Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 29 Mar. 2026
The art, likely not Franklin's own, was reprinted in newspapers throughout the colonies, one of the first instances in which the separate British colonies began to think of themselves as a somewhat unified entity.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
This led them to conclude that the subjects were brought to Amsterdam via the Dutch colonies.
—News Desk, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
The visits come ahead of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by colonies originally settled by former Dutch and British citizens.
—Ed O'Keefe, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
The research team did not enter large bat colonies due to health concerns.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Ramaphosa said most European countries must do more to acknowledge the indignity suffered by Africans through colonialism and consider paying reparations to their former colonies.
—Mogomotsi Magome, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Some caves in the region hold up to one million bats, although the research team did not enter caves with large bat colonies due to health concerns, according to the report.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
The king remains head of state in many former British colonies.
—Lauren Frayer, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 29 Mar. 2026
The art, likely not Franklin's own, was reprinted in newspapers throughout the colonies, one of the first instances in which the separate British colonies began to think of themselves as a somewhat unified entity.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
This led them to conclude that the subjects were brought to Amsterdam via the Dutch colonies.
—News Desk, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
The visits come ahead of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by colonies originally settled by former Dutch and British citizens.
—Ed O'Keefe, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
The research team did not enter large bat colonies due to health concerns.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Ramaphosa said most European countries must do more to acknowledge the indignity suffered by Africans through colonialism and consider paying reparations to their former colonies.
—Mogomotsi Magome, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Some caves in the region hold up to one million bats, although the research team did not enter caves with large bat colonies due to health concerns, according to the report.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
The king remains head of state in many former British colonies.
—Lauren Frayer, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonies
Noun
-
The family also owned coffee plantations, a rice mill and a private bank that financed the family’s operations.—
Sarah Moreno
Updated April 1,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
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Billy hails from a herd in Malaysia that was culled to clear land for palm and rubber plantations, according to the zoo.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Outside the courtroom, the case is already having an impact — especially in South Florida's immigrant communities.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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On this postcard-perfect corner of Canada’s northeastern province of Newfoundland and Labrador that’s slammed by wind and waves, cod-fishing communities hold on to their distinctive settler history.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And other nations, notably China, are working toward their own lunar outposts.—
Scott Solomon,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
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Since then, Cripple Creek has added outposts in Avon, Aspen, Basalt, Silverthorne and Seattle, Washington.—
Max Scheinblum,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonies. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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