WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
col•o•nize /ˈkɑləˌnaɪz/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -nized, -niz•ing.
col•o•ni•za•tion /ˌkɑlənəˈzeɪʃən/USA pronunciation n. [uncountable]
col•o•niz•er, n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Governmentto establish a colony in; settle:They colonized the region.
col•o•ni•za•tion /ˌkɑlənəˈzeɪʃən/USA pronunciation n. [uncountable]
col•o•niz•er, n. [countable]
col•o•nize
(kol′ə nīz′),USA pronunciation v., -nized, -niz•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
col′o•niz′a•ble, adj.
col′o•niz′a•bil′i•ty, n.
col′o•ni•za′tion, n.
col′o•ni•za′tion•ist, n.
col′o•niz′er, n.
v.t.
- Governmentto establish a colony in;
settle:England colonized Australia. - Governmentto form a colony of:to colonize laborers in a mining region.
v.i.
- Governmentto form a colony:They went out to Australia to colonize.
- Governmentto settle in a colony.
- colon(y) + -ize 1615–25
col′o•niz′a•bil′i•ty, n.
col′o•ni•za′tion, n.
col′o•ni•za′tion•ist, n.
col′o•niz′er, n.
'colonizer' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):