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colony

0 antonyms and opposites of colony, grouped by meaning.

Noun — A territory controlled by another, usually distant, country.

How to use colony

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

penguin colony ant colony former colony

Etymology

From Latin colonia ("settlement, farm"), from colonus ("farmer, settler"), from colere, "to till or cultivate."

Full origin of colony →

Frequently asked questions

What does “colony” mean?

The word “colony” means a territory controlled by another, usually distant, country. In plain terms, a settlement ruled by another country, or a group of the same creatures living together.

How do you pronounce “colony”?

“Colony” is pronounced KOL-uh-nee (/ˈkɔl.ə.ni/ in IPA).

How do you use “colony” in a sentence?

Here is “colony” used in a sentence: “India was a British colony for nearly two centuries before gaining independence.”

What part of speech is “colony”?

“Colony” is a noun.

Where does the word “colony” come from?

The word “colony” comes from Latin. From Latin colonia ("settlement, farm"), from colonus ("farmer, settler"), from colere, "to till or cultivate.".

Is “colony” a common word?

“Colony” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “colony” have?

“Colony” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a territory controlled by another, usually distant, country.

What is the difference between a colony and a country?

A colony is a territory controlled by another, usually distant, country and does not govern itself independently. A country is a self-governing nation with its own authority, whereas a colony remains under the political control of a ruling power.

Can colony refer to animals as well as places?

Yes. Besides meaning a territory controlled by another country, colony also describes a group of the same kind of animal, insect, or organism living closely together, such as an ant colony, a colony of bats, or a colony of bacteria.

What is the difference between a colony and a settlement?

A settlement is simply a place where people establish homes and community, without implying outside control. A colony specifically implies that the territory is governed by another, usually distant, country rather than being fully self-ruling.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.