| 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). |
| Main Entry: | charter colony |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | in US history, a colony started by an individual trading company which had a Royal Charter with the British crown |
| Example: | Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island were all charter colonies. |