colonize meaning and definition

COLONIZE verb

Definition of colonize (verb)

1. settle as a colony; of countries in the developing world
   • "Europeans colonized Africa in the 17th century"
   • synonyms: colonise
   • antonym: decolonise
2. settle as colonists or establish a colony (in)
   • "The British colonized the East Coast"
   • synonyms: colonise