as in settler
a person who settles in a new region
over time the colonists began to sense that they were becoming a people unto themselves
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Recent Examples of colonist
As late as 1776, only a third of colonists supported the Revolution wholeheartedly; a roughly equal amount remained loyal to the crown, and the remainder had yet to make up their minds.
—
Time, 9 Oct. 2025
When the sun rose on the 17th, it was revealed that the colonists—possibly out of a last-minute change of plans, possibly out of moonlit confusion—had built a rough defensive fort on the other hill, Breed’s Hill.
—Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Around the end of the eighteenth century, about 80 percent of New England was forested—down from over 90 percent when European colonists first arrived.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Oct. 2025
Pairing apple pie and cheddar cheese is an American tradition that began with English colonists and persists today in the Northeast and Midwest.
—Staff Author, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colonist
Time, 9 Oct. 2025
When the sun rose on the 17th, it was revealed that the colonists—possibly out of a last-minute change of plans, possibly out of moonlit confusion—had built a rough defensive fort on the other hill, Breed’s Hill.
—Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Around the end of the eighteenth century, about 80 percent of New England was forested—down from over 90 percent when European colonists first arrived.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Oct. 2025
Pairing apple pie and cheddar cheese is an American tradition that began with English colonists and persists today in the Northeast and Midwest.
—Staff Author, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colonist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonist
Noun
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As a result, around 1,600 Taínos across Hispaniola became captives—of these, 550 were sent to Spain and 650 given to settlers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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Their culture and practices shaped the Southwestern part of this country, in spite of relentless attempts by white colonizers and settlers to erase them.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The transformation reinforces our position as a pioneer in the region’s retail and leisure landscape.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
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National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum Located downtown, the National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum dives deep into the region’s economic history, with exhibits that cover mining culture, pioneer life, Indigenous history, and period photographs from the region.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The hotel’s 142 rooms and suites are designed with a dark-wood and light-linen look—sort of Scandi meets Spanish colonial.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
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Wine culture in the area is traced to native grapes like Muscadine and 17th-century colonial imports.—
Osayi Endolyn,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Colonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonist. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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