as in settler
a person who settles in a new region
over time the colonists began to sense that they were becoming a people unto themselves
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Recent Examples of colonist
Virginia is recognized as the birthplace of American wine, since colonists attempted the craft in the early 17th century.
—
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
This practice outraged the American colonists, who believed that general warrants enabled tyranny by empowering officers to enter homes and businesses at will.
—Amanda Cats-Baril, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2026
The Hopis and Zunis were part of the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, where Spanish colonists and priests were driven out of the pueblos of New Mexico and northeastern Arizona.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Decades before the Declaration of Independence, colonists organized boycotts and public demonstrations opposing British rule.
—Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for colonist
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
This practice outraged the American colonists, who believed that general warrants enabled tyranny by empowering officers to enter homes and businesses at will.
—Amanda Cats-Baril, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2026
The Hopis and Zunis were part of the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, where Spanish colonists and priests were driven out of the pueblos of New Mexico and northeastern Arizona.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Decades before the Declaration of Independence, colonists organized boycotts and public demonstrations opposing British rule.
—Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for colonist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonist
Noun
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Eyewitnesses said Israeli settlers set fire to homes, farming sheds and vehicles.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
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While Willick was there, some settlers drove by in a white pickup and smiled—including Levi.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Long before federal regulations existed, the couple hosted the very first meeting to form the National Organic Standards Board right there at their ranch, gathering with other pioneers like the Lundberg family to create a unified standard.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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Apollo's acquisition came after Verizon Communications bought Yahoo's online operations in 2017 and then bungled an attempt to blend those services into AOL, another internet pioneer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That this colonial looks and feels new should be credited to the current owners, who have taken extraordinary care of their home.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
22 Mar. 2026
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An extension of the kind of settler-colonial conquest of the American West, and the dispossessions of indigenous people that have been practiced for a century or so.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonist. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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