colonial

[kuh-loh-nee-uhl]

adjective

1. of, concerning, or pertaining to a colony or colonies.

   the colonial policies of France.

2. of, concerning, or pertaining to colonialism; colonialistic.

3. (often initial capital letter),  pertaining to the 13 British colonies that became the United States of America, or to their period.

4. Ecology.,  forming a colony.

5. (initial capital letter)

   1. noting or pertaining to the styles of architecture, ornament, and furnishings of the British colonies in America in the 17th and 18th centuries, mainly adapted to local materials and demands from prevailing English styles.

   2. noting or pertaining to various imitations of the work of American colonial artisans.

noun

1. an inhabitant of a colony.

2. a house in or imitative of the Colonial style.

colonial

/ kəˈləʊnɪəl /

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, relating to, possessing, or inhabiting a colony or colonies

2. (often capital) characteristic of or relating to the 13 British colonies that became the United States of America (1776)

3. (often capital) of or relating to the colonies of the British Empire

4. denoting, relating to, or having the style of Neoclassical architecture used in the British colonies in America in the 17th and 18th centuries

5. of or relating to the period of Australian history before Federation (1901)

6. (of organisms such as corals and bryozoans) existing as a colony of polyps

7. (of animals and plants) having become established in a community in a new environment

noun

1. a native of a colony

Other Word Forms

• colonially adverb
• noncolonial adjective
• noncolonially adverb
• procolonial adjective
• semicolonial adjective
• semicolonially adverb
• uncolonial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of colonial¹

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80; colony + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The union of journalists in Lebanon condemned Barrack’s remarks as reflecting “an ingrained colonial arrogance towards the peoples of the region.”

From Los Angeles Times

Niger has historically exported the metal for further refining in France, but that is changing as the military-led country cuts off ties with the former colonial power.

From BBC

It is not the first time human remains from the colonial era have been given back by France.

From BBC

With the country deep in the throes of a colonial design revival, Roosevelt envisioned a proper colonial garden on the premises.

From Salon

"That wasn't liberation - it was just a transfer of colonial rule," he said.

From BBC