Meaning & use

colonist

noun·Academic

A person who settles in a new territory or colony, especially one under the control of another country.

See it in a sentence

Early colonists struggled through a harsh winter with little food or shelter.

The letters describe daily life among colonists in the new settlement.

A note on using this word

"Colonist" specifically implies settling land under a colonial system, while "settler" is broader and can apply to any newly inhabited area.

Words with a similar meaning

settler

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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