colonial

[ kuh-loh-nee-uh l ]

/ kəˈloʊ ni əl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR colonial ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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.

noun

an inhabitant of a colony.

a house in or imitative of the Colonial style.

Nearby words

colonalgia, colonel, colonel blimp, colonelcy, colonia, colonial, colonial animal, colonial experience, colonial goose, colonial heights, colonial siding

Origin of colonial

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80; colony + -al¹

Related forms

co·lo·ni·al·ly, adverbnon·co·lo·ni·al, adjective, nounnon·co·lo·ni·al·ly, adverbpro·co·lo·ni·al, adjective, noun

sem·i·co·lo·ni·al, adjectivesem·i·co·lo·ni·al·ly, adverbun·co·lo·ni·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for colonial

During the colonial period the Punjabi Muslims formed the prized martial class for the British Raj.
CIA Agents Assess: How Real Is ‘Homeland’?|Chuck Cogan, John MacGaffin|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There were men dressed in colonial garb complete with knee-breeches and powdered wigs.
New York’s Century-Old Time Capsule Is a Dud|Justin Jones|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the eloquent words of colonial preacher John Winthrop, “When a man is to wade through deep water, there is required tallness.”
For Short Men in 2014, The News Is Surprisingly Good|Kevin Bleyer|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The British comedian has posted a web-exclusive video to celebrate what he calls 'the day of Colonial Aggression.'
Viral Video of the Day: John Oliver Recaps Your 4th of July (NSFW)|Alex Chancey|July 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

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 4th|P. J. O’Rourke|July 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This eighteenth-century Colonial narrative gives a vivid description of Roger's Rangers.
A Mother's List of Books for Children|Gertrude Weld Arnold
The education which he received was an excellent one, considering his colonial environment.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 6 of 8|Various
Compare the way immigrants come to-day with the way they came in colonial times.
History of the United States|Charles A. Beard and Mary R. Beard
However, we got on board after a good deal of fatigue, and were rewarded by receiving many letters, both English and Colonial.
Journals Of Expeditions Of Discovery Into Central Australia And Overland|Edward John Eyre
He conducted many of the negotiations with Great Britain on colonial affairs.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 1|Various

British Dictionary definitions for colonial

colonial

/ (kəˈləʊnɪəl) /

adjective

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

noun

a native of a colony

Derived Forms

colonially, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012