verb · academic
colonize
UK/ˈkɒlənaɪz/US/ˈkɑːlənaɪz/COL·o·nize
to establish political control over an area and settle people there
Examples
“In the 19th century many European powers colonized parts of Africa.”
“Colonizing often involved imposing the colonizer's laws and institutions.”
“Debates over whether to celebrate explorers usually mention the harms of colonization.”
Band 8 sentence
“Many historians argue that patterns of colonization still influence global trade and inequality.”
Collocations
- colonize a territory
- be colonized by
- colonial rule/colonial powers
Word family
Common mistakes
They colonized Vietnam at the 19th century.→They colonized Vietnam in the 19th century.
He colonize the island.→He colonizes the island.
Say it for a higher band
5take over→6settle→7+colonize
Synonyms
settle
Easily confused
settle
“Many families settled in the valley after the war.”
Related words
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In -ize
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