Definitions
01controlled territory
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a country or area that is ruled by another, more powerful country.
n. a territory under the political control of a distant state, often established for resource extraction or strategic settlement.
“In the 18th century, America was still a British colony.”
“The administration of the colony was managed by a governor appointed directly by the crown to oversee trade and taxation.”
Synonyms
02group of organisms
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Biology
n. a group of animals or plants of the same type that live together.
n. a population of organisms of the same species living in close physical association, often functioning as a single unit.
“The researchers found a large colony of ants living under the old tree.”
“Marine biologists observed that the coral colony was beginning to recover after several years of strictly enforced environmental protections.”
03neighbourhood
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Dialect
n. a name for a specific neighbourhood or a group of apartment buildings.
n. a residential district, housing estate, or neighbourhood.
“He lives in a quiet colony near the city centre.”
“The new housing colony was designed with integrated parks and local shops to serve the growing middle-class population.”
Usage
Commonly used in Indian English to refer to residential areas.
Teaching tip
In Indian English, this is a standard way to describe a residential area; however, in British or American English, it might sound like a historical or biological term.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “colony” in context.
Verb
01. establish a colony
“The settlers traveled across the ocean to establish a colony in the new territory.”
verb + noun
02. rule a colony
“For centuries, the empire ruled several colonies across the African continent.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. former colony
“Many former colonies gained their independence in the mid-20th century.”
adj + noun
04. penal colony
“The island was originally used as a penal colony for dangerous criminals.”
adj + noun
05. thriving colony
“The scientists discovered a thriving colony of rare seabirds on the remote cliffs.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. artist colony
“She spent the summer living in an artist colony to focus on her painting.”
noun + noun
07. colony of ants
“A large colony of ants had built an impressive nest under the old oak tree.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“A Mars colony would need people to build it.” “New UC Riverside research shows their behavior changes as chemicals make their way through a colony.” Etymology
From Middle English colane, colonye, from Latin colōnia (“colony”), from colōnus (“farmer; colonist”), from colō (“till, cultivate, worship”), from earlier quelō, from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- (“to move; to turn (around)”). Doublet of Cologne, Colonia, and Köln.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/colony
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0