colonial

Everyday

1. Colonial describes things to do with a colony, a land ruled by another, faraway country. tree →
2. Colonial describes the time when a country was a colony, such as colonial America or colonial India, and its buildings and furniture style. tree →
3. (science) Colonial animals live joined together in groups, like corals. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons, empires such as Britain, Spain and France ruled colonies; colonial rule brought trade but also conquest, unfair treatment and slavery, and many colonies later fought for independence. In the USA, the Colonial period is before 1776. In Australia, New Zealand and Canada, colonial times are when British settlers arrived, which harmed First Nations, Maori and Aboriginal peoples.

Examples

• India was under British colonial rule for many years. tree →
• The thirteen colonial states became the USA. tree →
• Colonial houses often have tall white columns. tree →
• The museum shows life in colonial Australia. tree →
• Colonial powers drew borders across Africa. tree →
• Corals are colonial animals. tree →

Note

Adjective from colony. Related: colonist, colonise (UK) or colonize (US), colonialism (the system of ruling colonies). Colonial history is told differently by different peoples, so name the viewpoints.