noun
Common
colony
KOL-uh-nee
Colony (noun) means a territory controlled by another, usually distant, country. Example: “The island was a colony for many years and still has some old forts.”
noun
1
A territory controlled by another, usually distant, country.
"The island was a colony for many years and still has some old forts."
"India was a British colony for nearly two centuries before gaining independence."
"The thirteen American colonies eventually broke away from Britain."
2
A group of the same kind of animal, insect, or organism living closely together.
"A colony of bees had made its nest inside the old oak tree."
"The scientists studied a large colony of penguins on the ice shelf."
"A colony of ants can contain millions of individuals working together."
How to use colony
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA settlement ruled by another country, or a group of the same creatures living together.
Common pairings
penguin colony
ant colony
former colony
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Word forms
- Plural
- colonies
- Third person singular
- colonies
- Past tense
- colonied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The island was a _____ for many years and still has some old forts.
Etymology
From Latin colonia ("settlement, farm"), from colonus ("farmer, settler"), from colere, "to till or cultivate."
Related words
Rhymes for colony
See all rhymes for 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.
