co·lo·nial
kə-ˈlō-nē-əl 
-nyəl
1
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony
colonial trade
colonial life
a colonial capital
The Haitian Revolution, led by self-liberated enslaved people against the French colonial government, was an early precursor to the abolition movements of the United States.—
Chadd Scott
: having the status of a colony
Chadd Scottcolonial territories
b
: possessing or composed of colonies
Britain's colonial empire
… when the United States became a colonial power, assuming control of Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Hawaii …—Peter S. Canellos
Peter S. Canellos2
or less commonly Colonial
: of or relating to a period when an area is being colonized and especially to the period of European colonization in U.S. history between the early 17th century and the late 18th century
in colonial times
: such as
a
: made or prevailing during a colonial period
a town known for its Dutch/French/Spanish colonial architecture
colonial furniture
b
: adapted from or reminiscent of a mode of design from a colonial period
new homes built in the colonial style
3
: forming, existing in, or used by a colony
Though it may look like a tropical plant or colorful rock, coral is a colonial carnivore …—Mark Derr
Mark Derr
plural colonials
1
: a member or inhabitant of a colony
British colonials in India
a rebellion of the colonials
2
a
: a product (such as a coin or stamp) made for use in a colony
b
or Colonial
: a product exhibiting colonial style
especially
: a house built in the neoclassical style of the American colonial period
LaMontagne said the homes will be two-story Colonials with attached garages and about three to four bedrooms. —Mark Hayward
Mark Hayward Synonyms
Examples of colonial in a Sentence
Adjective
The country was a colonial power.
a colonial nation and its colonial empire
The book describes life in Colonial America.
an example of colonial architecture
The port had been very important in colonial times.
Noun
They bought a Colonial on a quiet street.
increasing tension between colonials and the mother country
Recent Examples on the Web
Carlton Reid, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
The demand for former colonial powers such as Britain to pay reparations or make other amends for slavery and its legacies today is a longstanding one, but has gained momentum worldwide, particularly among the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African Union.
—Reuters, NBC News, 25 Oct. 2024
Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024
Ideal for water drainage as well as ventilation, this traditional style can brave rainy and snowy climates and is best suited for homes with traditional architecture styles like colonials or farmhouses.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for colonial 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
This work is woke, assert activists from Restore Trust, a campaign group founded following the publication of a National Trust report in September 2020 about the links between some of the National Trust’s properties and Britain’s colonial history, including connections to the Atlantic slave trade.
—Carlton Reid, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
The demand for former colonial powers such as Britain to pay reparations or make other amends for slavery and its legacies today is a longstanding one, but has gained momentum worldwide, particularly among the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African Union.
—Reuters, NBC News, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
And much like the city itself, Boston’s top hotels effortlessly blend the colonial past with its cosmopolitan present.
—Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024
Ideal for water drainage as well as ventilation, this traditional style can brave rainy and snowy climates and is best suited for homes with traditional architecture styles like colonials or farmhouses.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for colonial
Dictionary Entries Near colonial
Cite this Entry
“Colonial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colonial. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
colonial
1 of 2 adjective
co·lo·nial
kə-ˈlō-nē-əl
-nyəl
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony
2
often capitalized
: of or relating to the original 13 colonies forming the U.S.
3
: forming or existing in a colony
colonial organisms
4
: possessing or composed of colonies
a colonial empire
colonial
2 of 2 nounLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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