Definition of colonynext
1
as in plantation
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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2
as in community
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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of colony In your intestines, colonies of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and others) make up the gut microbiome. Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 12 Mar. 2026 Researchers swabbed several common travel items, then incubated the samples to measure bacterial growth in colony-forming units (CFUs). Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026 At the end of the eighteenth century, while the country was still a Portuguese colony, members of its independence movement, led by José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, suggested that the capital be transferred from the coastal Rio to São João del-Rei. Sophia La Banca, JSTOR Daily, 11 Mar. 2026 Plants like mint, lavender, eucalyptus, and marigold may repel wasps, and traps can help reduce the colony. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for colony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colony
Noun
  • Hundreds of thousands of acres, including many former rice plantations, have been conserved in the area between Beaufort and Charleston, and marshes there stretch out like coastal prairies.
    Thad Moore, AJC.com, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Some were imprisoned near the Madison family plantation at Montpelier.
    Corey D. B. Walker, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • While fans packed free concerts from the Lumineers and Orville Peck, Los Lobos — one of the biggest Chicano bands of the last 50 years — played a free show at the Downright Austin that was smaller than expected, considering the broad interest from Austin's Hispanic community.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Many communities canceled festivities following the crackdown on protesters in January, while others have organized smaller, quieter versions of the usually joyous celebration.
    AMY TAXIN, Arkansas Online, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Hark back, for instance, to Austin’s miserable decades as a frontier outpost with few creature comforts before the Civil War.
    Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Over the last three decades, Weiss has directly helped establish dozens of Israeli outposts – settlements in the West Bank built without legal authorization.
    Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Colony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colony. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

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