noun

colony

colony

The country was a former French colony.

The country was a former French colony.

A colony of ants built a nest there.

A colony of ants built a nest there.

She joined an artists' colony in the mountains.

She joined an artists' colony in the mountains.

a colony of (sth.) a group of animals or people A colony of penguins lives on the island.

a (country's) colony a country controlled by another country India was once a British colony.

Synonyms: settlement, territory, community

From Latin 'colonia' (settlement, farm), from 'colere' (to cultivate, to inhabit).

Think of 'colonists' who settle in a new land to form a 'colony'. This applies to groups of animals and people too.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.