crown colony

American

noun

a British colony in which the crown has the entire control of legislation and administration, as distinguished from one having a constitution and representative government.

crown colony British

noun

a British colony whose administration and legislature is controlled by the Crown

"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

Etymology

Origin of crown colony

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Because Trinidad was still a crown colony at the time, my father actually entered Canada on a British passport.

From Salon • Jul. 29, 2023

It was given to Edward VII on his 66th birthday by the government of the Transvaal - a former British crown colony - in what is now South Africa.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2023

The bases – a legacy of Cyprus’ past as a former crown colony – are home to nearly 6,000 British military personnel and their dependents.

From The Guardian • May 14, 2020

Indeed it was so in this republic even before it was a republic, when it was just another crown colony in His Majesty’s empire.

From Washington Times • Oct. 11, 2016

The fortified promontory and town of Gibraltar, now a British crown colony, have long been objects of historical interest.

From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 14 by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023