# colonization

/ˌkɑɫənɪˈzeɪʃən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/colonization
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. political control of territory

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the act of a powerful country taking control of another area and sending its own people to live there.

For teachers: the process by which a central system of power dominates the surrounding land and its components, typically involving the settlement of a population from the colonising power.

- The colonization of the Americas changed the history of the world forever.
- Historians continue to debate the long-term economic and social impacts of European colonization on indigenous populations across the African continent.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when discussing the general historical process.

### 2. biological spread

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the way plants, animals, or bacteria spread to a new place and start living there.

For teachers: the process in biology by which a species spreads to new areas, often referring to the initial population of a previously unoccupied habitat.

- The colonization of the new volcanic island by plants happened very quickly.
- The rapid colonization of the gut by beneficial bacteria is essential for the development of a healthy immune system in newborns.

Usage: Commonly used in ecology and microbiology to describe the establishment of a species in a new niche.

## Examples

- The colonization of the island changed its culture forever.
- Historians study the colonization of the Americas to understand the long-term effects on indigenous populations.
- The rapid colonization of the continent led to a complex web of cultural exchange and systemic oppression that continues to influence modern geopolitical relations.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.