charter colony


noun American History.

a colony, as Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Rhode Island, chartered to an individual, trading company, etc., by the British crown. Compare royal colony(def 2).

Origin of charter colony

First recorded in 1760–70

British Dictionary definitions for charter colony

charter colony

noun

US history a colony, such as Virginia or Massachusetts, created by royal charter under the control of an individual, trading company, etc, and exempt from interference by the Crown