colonist

[ kol-uh-nist ]

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.

colonist

/ ˈkɒlənɪst /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of colonist¹

An Americanism dating back to 1695–1705; colon(y) + -ist

Example Sentences

However, the researchers report their work revealed the "richness, abundance and composition" of the bee populations were "signficantly impacted by agricultural colonization after as little as 10-17 years of settlement by colonist farmers and ranchers."

From Science Daily

In “The Wretched of the Earth,” he argues: “For the colonized, life can only materialize from the rotting cadaver of the colonist … At the individual level, violence is dis-intoxicating. It rids the colonized of his inferiority complex, of his passive and despairing attitude.”

From Los Angeles Times

Pocahontas died several years later in March 1617 in Gravesend, England, while colonist John Rolfe died around March 1622, he added.

From BBC

There is no doubt that the rest of the world’s rising success in the world’s most popular sport is due to more of that talent long gathered by Europe from points beyond its border playing now for its birthplace, or origin, rather than for a European colonist from which that birthplace may have liberated itself, often in brutal struggles.

From Washington Post

“New Zealand was presented as an ideal society, and there wasn’t room for those who would be a burden on the ‘ideal society,’ according to the white colonist government,” said Hilary Stace, a researcher on the history of disabilities who is based in Wellington, New Zealand.

From New York Times

Related Words

• colonizer