Colonie

Colonie is a term with several related meanings in historical, political, and linguistic contexts. In French and Dutch, the standard spellings are colonie and kolonie respectively, while in English the common form is colony. The word derives from Latin colonia, meaning a settled community or farm, and entered medieval and modern usage to designate a territory established and governed by settlers from another land. In English, the variant colonial spelled form appears in older texts and in some regional spellings. The related verb is colonize, and the noun for the system is colonialism.

Historically, colonies were established by imperial powers to extract resources, extend influence, or spread religion and culture. Colonies typically featured metropolitan administration, settler communities, and economic arrangements that favored the colonizing state. The colonial system supported large empires from the 16th to the 20th centuries and sparked resistance and movements for independence. In biology and microbiology, the term colony is also used to describe a visible growth of organisms on a surface, descended from a single ancestor, and cognate spellings appear in some languages.

In geography, Colonie is the name of a town in Albany County, New York, United States. The Town of Colonie is part of the Capital District and lies to the west and north of the city of Albany. It comprises suburban communities, residential neighborhoods, and commercial centers and serves as a significant residential and economic area within the region.