Synonyms of colonists

colonists

noun

plural of colonist

as in settlers

a person who settles in a new region

over time the colonists began to sense that they were becoming a people unto themselves

Synonyms & Similar Words

• settlers
• pioneers
• colonizers
• colonials
• frontiersmen
• homesteaders
• explorers
• pathfinders
• woodsmen
• mountain men
• bushrangers
• trailblazers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of colonists

Like much of the valley, Gilroy stands on land that was first occupied by the native Amah Mutsun, then taken over by Spanish colonists and later became Mexico. — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 31 July 2026

The ancient route was first traveled by hunter-gatherers, before being used by Indigenous traders, Inca messengers, Spanish colonists, and railway workers, among others. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2026

Under British rule, mail wasn’t private; postmasters could open letters to spy on colonists. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 July 2026

Religious symbols are best displayed in non-governmental spaces given that America was formed by colonists who fled England to seek freedom of religion. — Tara Sonenshine, Baltimore Sun, 11 July 2026

European colonists in Australia encountered a suite of venomous snakes just as fearsome as those of the Libyan desert. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

For example, Indigenous people shared their knowledge of making tea from local plants and herbs with colonists. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026

The king refused to look at it, and issued the Proclamation of Rebellion, declaring the colonists traitors and hiring 30,000 German mercenaries to help crush them. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 4 July 2026

Anticipation for the milestone holiday has been building for much of the year, serving as an opportunity for Americans to reflect on their complicated history as onetime colonists of an empire who became a superpower of their own. — Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2026