A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established a permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. A settler who migrates to an area previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited may be described as a pioneer.

What did colonists mean?

A colonist is a member of a government-backed group that settles in a new country or region. The land that's claimed by a colonist is usually already occupied by another group of people. A colonist can also be called a settler, someone who helps start a settlement in a new land.

What is an example of colonist?

The definition of a colonist is someone who was an original settler in a colony or currently lives in a colony. William Bradford of the Plymouth Colony is an example of a founding American colonist. Those living in the New Zealand colony Tokelau are examples of colonists. A person who is a founder of a colony.