colonial

[ kuh-loh-nee-uhl ]

adjective

1. of, concerning, or pertaining to a colony or colonies:

   the colonial policies of France.

2. of, concerning, or pertaining to colonialism; colonialistic.
3. (often initial capital letter) pertaining to the 13 British colonies that became the United States of America, or to their period.
4. Ecology. forming a colony.
5. (initial capital letter) Architecture, Furniture.
   1. noting or pertaining to the styles of architecture, ornament, and furnishings of the British colonies in America in the 17th and 18th centuries, mainly adapted to local materials and demands from prevailing English styles.
   2. noting or pertaining to various imitations of the work of American colonial artisans.

noun

1. an inhabitant of a colony.
2. a house in or imitative of the Colonial style.

colonial

/ kəˈləʊnɪəl /

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, relating to, possessing, or inhabiting a colony or colonies
2. often capital characteristic of or relating to the 13 British colonies that became the United States of America (1776)
3. often capital of or relating to the colonies of the British Empire
4. denoting, relating to, or having the style of Neoclassical architecture used in the British colonies in America in the 17th and 18th centuries
5. of or relating to the period of Australian history before Federation (1901)
6. (of organisms such as corals and bryozoans) existing as a colony of polyps
7. (of animals and plants) having become established in a community in a new environment

noun

1. a native of a colony

Derived Forms

• coˈlonially, adverb

Other Words From

• co·loni·al·ly adverb
• nonco·loni·al adjective noun
• nonco·loni·al·ly adverb
• proco·loni·al adjective noun
• semi·co·loni·al adjective
• semi·co·loni·al·ly adverb
• unco·loni·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of colonial¹

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80; colony + -al ¹

Example Sentences

At the weekend, Burkina Faso's foreign minister praised Russia and said it was a more suitable partner than the former colonial power France.

From BBC

Each poppy represents the life of a British or colonial soldier who died fighting in World War One.

From BBC

He continued serving in the RAF in the colonial office and was mainly responsible for the welfare of Caribbean men.

From BBC

He also served as a lieutenant in the Gurkha Rifles, fighting in the Malayan Emergency, a communist-inspired revolt against the British colonial authorities.

From BBC

India had gained independence from British colonial rule only in 1947 and the country was struggling to feed its population and build enough schools and hospitals.

From BBC