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

As a former crown colony, Cyprus’s legal system is based on British law.

From The Guardian • Jan. 1, 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 Falkland Islands are a crown colony, with a governor and executive and legislative councils.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 2 "Fairbanks, Erastus" to "Fens" by Various

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