charter colony

noun

, American History.

1. a colony, as Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Rhode Island, chartered to an individual, trading company, etc., by the British crown. Compare royal colony ( def 2 ).

charter colony

noun

1. history a colony, such as Virginia or Massachusetts, created by royal charter under the control of an individual, trading company, etc, and exempt from interference by the Crown

Word History and Origins

Origin of charter colony¹

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

A long, long time ago I knew whether Maryland was a Charter colony or not, but now I never expect to know again.

From Project Gutenberg

Rather than prolong it to desperation and death in the last ditch it is much better and more sensible to accept a dependent position of some sort, the position of a crown colony, or a charter colony with more or less varying degrees of colonial control, all of which your very unwise and altogether reckless great grandfather John Adams, and some of his friends used to describe as "political slavery."

From Project Gutenberg