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colonial

colonial

adjective koh-loh-NYAHL Rare
People & Society Government

Origin: From Latin colonia (settlement, colony).

Usage Note

Colonial describes anything relating to a colony or the period of colonialism: arquitectura colonial (colonial architecture), era colonial (colonial era). In Latin America the word can carry a historically charged weight and is used carefully in academic and political discourse.

Examples

"La ciudad conserva su arquitectura colonial."

Natural Translation

The city preserves its colonial architecture.

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