Origin: Latin suffix -al
Colonial has 6 different meanings across 2 categories:
a resident of a colony
"The colonial governor addressed the assembly to discuss new trade regulations."
A person from a country that is or was controlled by another.
"The colonial officials imposed new taxes on the local population without their consent."
In plain English: A colonial is someone who lives in a territory controlled by another country, usually far away from their home nation.
"The colonial settled in Virginia to start a new life away from England."
of or relating to or characteristic of or inhabiting a colony
"The colonial architecture featured wide porches and tall, slender columns typical of the region's early settlements."
of animals who live in colonies, such as ants
"The queen ant directed her workers to gather food for their large colony."
Of or pertaining to a colony.
"The colonial government imposed new taxes on the residents of the territory."
In plain English: Colonial means relating to when countries controlled other lands and their people for resources.
"The colonial architecture in that town features distinct white columns and large porches."
Usage: Use colonial as an adjective specifically when describing things related to the period of European rule over other lands, such as architecture or governance styles. Avoid confusing it with modern terms like "international" unless referring strictly to historical contexts involving colonies.
The word colonial comes from combining the noun colony with the suffix -al to mean relating to a colony. It entered English as a straightforward formation based on these existing parts.