colonial
[kuh-loh-nee-uh l]
- of, concerning, or pertaining to a colony or colonies: the colonial policies of France.
- of, concerning, or pertaining to colonialism; colonialistic.
- (often initial capital letter) pertaining to the 13 British colonies that became the United States of America, or to their period.
- Ecology. forming a colony.
- (initial capital letter) Architecture, Furniture.
- 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.
- noting or pertaining to various imitations of the work of American colonial artisans.
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- an inhabitant of a colony.
- a house in or imitative of the Colonial style.
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Origin of colonial
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
provincialprimitivepilgrimfrontierdependentimmigrantpioneerterritorialdominionwildcrudepuritanemigrantnewunculturedunsettledunsophisticatedoutlandprerevolutionaryExamples from the Web for colonial
Contemporary Examples
During the colonial period the Punjabi Muslims formed the prized martial class for the British Raj.
There were men dressed in colonial garb complete with knee-breeches and powdered wigs.
In the eloquent words of colonial preacher John Winthrop, “When a man is to wade through deep water, there is required tallness.”
The British comedian has posted a web-exclusive video to celebrate what he calls 'the day of Colonial Aggression.'
In 1776 the United States was a small, colonial nation on the Atlantic coast of North America.
P.J. O'Rourke: 27 Sensitive, Caring, Green, and Politically Committed Reasons to Ban July 4thP. J. O’Rourke
July 3, 2014
Historical Examples
It was a colonial mansion, sitting austerely back in a square yard.
Meadow GrassAlice Brown
We have already glanced at various phases of colonial individualism.
The American MindBliss Perry
Fully 30,000 troops are said to have been gathered for the attack upon the Colonial troops.
Bitter wars have been fought in Europe for colonial 160 supremacy in other continents.
Mountain MeditationsL. Lind-af-Hageby
Apart from that, the new-chum is the incarnate comedy of colonial life.
Brighter Britain! (Volume 1 of 2)William Delisle Hay
colonial
- of, characteristic of, relating to, possessing, or inhabiting a colony or colonies
- (often capital) characteristic of or relating to the 13 British colonies that became the United States of America (1776)
- (often capital) of or relating to the colonies of the British Empire
- denoting, relating to, or having the style of Neoclassical architecture used in the British colonies in America in the 17th and 18th centuries
- of or relating to the period of Australian history before Federation (1901)
- (of organisms such as corals and bryozoans) existing as a colony of polyps
- (of animals and plants) having become established in a community in a new environment
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- a native of a colony
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for colonial
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper