Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

colonist

[kol-uh-nist]
See more synonyms for colonist on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. an inhabitant of a colony.
  2. a member of a colonizing expedition.
  3. (often initial capital letter) an inhabitant of the 13 British colonies that became the United States of America.
Show More

Origin of colonist

An Americanism dating back to 1695–1705; colon(y) + -ist
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for colonist

Historical Examples

  • Isaacson is a Martian colonist, you've probably guessed that already.

    Security

    Poul William Anderson

  • His hands fluttered nervously, and he avoided the colonist's eyes.

    Image of the Gods

    Alan Edward Nourse

  • But if the prisoner was injured, the colonist was not less so.

  • This is no uncommon occurrence to the merchant or the colonist of tropical America.

  • I wish you would have it inserted in the Globe and Colonist.

    The Story of My Life

    Egerton Ryerson

British Dictionary definitions for colonist

colonist

noun
  1. a person who settles or colonizes an area
  2. an inhabitant or member of a colony
Show More
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

Word Origin and History for colonist

n.

1701, "colonizer," from colony + -ist.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper