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 guides damage coral colonies to make these tiny fish easier to show to visitors, but this image was captured by waiting patiently and allowing the animal to appear naturally. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

In years past, only a handful of divers have been permitted by the park to descend to the site where the plane’s aluminum body lays upholstered with colonies of invasive mussels. — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

This program teaches students the skills and knowledge needed to keep colonies healthy and productive year after year. — Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026

In their tests, the prototype reduced spore colonies on a scrap of fabric by more than 75%. — Rahul Rao, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Electronic circuits move electrical signals through wires, while these biological circuits move molecules between bacterial colonies. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026

The Treaty of Paris was signed between the American colonies and Great Britain, ending the Revolutionary War and officially recognizing the United States as an independent nation. — USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026

Yet still the colonies’ differences with Britain descended into war. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

Its catch in 1931, including yields from colonies such as Korea and Taiwan, which was under Japanese control from 1895 to 1945, accounted for roughly 44% of the global total, according to Japan’s Fisheries Bureau. — Pei-Hsu Lin, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026