# colony

/ˈkɑɫəni/ (US) · /kˈɒləni/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/colony
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. controlled territory

noun · CEFR B2

a country or area that is ruled by another, more powerful country.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. group of organisms

noun · CEFR B2

a group of animals or plants of the same type that live together.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. neighbourhood

noun · CEFR B2 · Dialect

a name for a specific neighbourhood or a group of apartment buildings.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- A large colony of ants lives under the garden path.
- Researchers observed a colony of penguins huddling together to survive the harsh winter winds.
- The biologist identified several distinct bacterial colonies on the agar plate, each originating from a single cell that had multiplied over forty-eight hours.

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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.