- a person who settles or colonizes an area
- an inhabitant or member of a colony
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
col•o•nist /ˈkɑlənɪst/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Governmentan inhabitant of a colony:American colonists were loyal to England in the early days of settlement.
- Governmentone who establishes a colony:The colonists had run out of food.
col•o•nist
(kol′ə nist),USA pronunciation n.
- Governmentan inhabitant of a colony.
- Governmenta member of a colonizing expedition.
- American History(often cap.) an inhabitant of the 13 British colonies that became the United States of America.
- colon(y) + -ist 1695–1705, American.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
colonist /ˈkɒlənɪst/ n
'colonist' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):