colonizer

noun

col·​o·​niz·​er ˈkä-lə-ˌnī-zər How to pronounce colonizer (audio)
variants also British coloniser
plural colonizers
: one that colonizes : an individual or entity that establishes a colony or colonies: such as
a
: a nation or state that takes control of a people or area as an extension of state power
the country's relationship with its former colonizer
b
see usage paragraph below : a person who migrates to and settles in a foreign area as part of a colony
Almost all early explorers and colonizers marveled at the natural abundance they found in the Americas, a biodiversity at odds with the deforestation and extinctions that the Europeans had already wrought in most of their own continent.Alan Taylor
Lemur was the Roman name for the spirits of the dead. … The lemurs of Madagascar, an island of southeastern Africa, were named by French colonizers.International Wildlife
c(1)
biology : an organism that establishes a population in a new area or habitat
… debate among scientists trying to determine how tube worms, clams and other colonizers of hydrothermal vents and cold seeps arrive and persist in their ephemeral habitats.Julie Zeidner Russo
Seaweeds tend to be the first colonizers on shorelines …Mark Carwardine
(2)
medical : a microorganism that multiplies in or on a host or an inanimate object or surface
Identification of the typical flora in the postoperative ethmoid sinus cavity, as well as a determination of the type of bacteria expected to be colonizers rather than pathogens, would also assist the physician in selecting an appropriate antibiotic.Neil Bhattacharyya and Harsha V. Gopal
Unnoticed biofilm colonizers are present in ventilator connectors and humidifiers, which may not be removed by routine methods.Bipassa Chakraborty et al.
Usage of Colonist and Colonizer

Colonist and colonizer both have meanings closely tied to the word colonialism in its use referring to domination of a foreign people or area. Colonist, which comes directly from the noun colony, is the more common—and usually more neutral—term. Colonizer, which comes from the verb colonize, is used especially in contexts in which the exploitative nature of colonialism is being discussed or evoked; in phrases like "colonizer mindset/mentality" it implies a benefit from or even active participation in that exploitation.

Examples of colonizer in a Sentence

the first colonizers of Easter Island must have faced untold challenges
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Who owns a colonized culture — the colonizers, or its original creators? David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024 Video Ad Feedback Indigenous lawmaker calls Queen Elizabeth II a colonizer during ceremony 01:24 - Source: CNN On Monday, protesters stood with an Aboriginal flag as the royal couple visited the Australian War Memorial. Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 21 Oct. 2024 When all one sees is colonized and colonizers, certain experiences register and others do not. Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2024 People of European descent in New Caledonia distinguish between descendants of colonizers and descendants of the many prisoners sent to the territory by force. Barbara Surk, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for colonizer 

Word History

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of colonizer was in 1723

Dictionary Entries Near colonizer

Cite this Entry

“Colonizer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colonizer. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!