A colony is a group of people from one country who settle in another territory, claiming the new land for their original country, which retains some control over it. This settlement is also called a colony, and the practice of establishing colonies is known as colonialism. Historically, colonies were often established for economic gain, resource exploitation, religious freedom, penal reasons, or settlement, but they frequently had harmful impacts on indigenous populations. Many colonies eventually gained independence, becoming separate countries.
In a broader sense, the term colony can also refer to a group of animals or plants living closely together, or, in microbiology, to a mass of microorganisms growing on a solid medium.
