crown colony
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A British colony controlled by the British Crown, represented by a governor: A crown colony is a type of British overseas territory that was directly administered by the British government, specifically the Crown, through an appointed governor. This distinguished it from other types of colonies, such as self-governing ones.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Hong Kong was a crown colony until its handover to China in 1997.
- The governor of the crown colony implemented policies sent from London.
Advanced Usage
- Historical and legal context: The term is primarily historical, referring to a specific administrative model within the British Empire. It implies a lack of local self-government, with ultimate authority residing with the British monarch and Parliament.
- Gibraltar's status evolved, but it was historically established as a crown colony.
Variants and Related Words
- Crown dependency: A possession of the British Crown that is not part of the United Kingdom (e.g., Isle of Man, Channel Islands). This is a related but distinct modern legal category.
- Protectorate: A territory controlled and protected by a stronger state but not formally annexed as a colony.
- Settler colony: A colony where a significant number of immigrants from the colonizing country settle permanently.
Synonyms
- British colony: A general term for any colony of the British Empire.
- Royal colony: A term sometimes used interchangeably, especially in historical contexts of other empires, but most specifically associated with British administration.
Related Phrases
- Under direct rule: A phrase describing the governance of a crown colony, where authority comes directly from the imperial government.
- The island was placed under direct rule as a crown colony.
Related Idioms
Noun
- a British colony controlled by the British Crown, represented by a governor