expansionism

[ ik-span-shuh-niz-uhm ]
See synonyms for expansionism on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a policy of expansion, as of territory or currency: the colonial expansionism of Europe in the 19th century.

Origin of expansionism

1
First recorded in 1895–1900; expansion + -ism

Other words from expansionism

  • ex·pan·sion·ist, noun, adjective
  • ex·pan·sion·is·tic, adjective
  • an·ti·ex·pan·sion·ism, noun
  • an·ti·ex·pan·sion·ist, noun, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use expansionism in a sentence

  • The warm red bricks of the college buildings are well-nigh hidden by ivy, which, too, is an ardent expansionist.

    Behind the Line | Ralph Henry Barbour
  • His stout imperialism had won him the leadership of the expansionist West and South.

    Expansion and Conflict | William E. Dodd
  • A marrid man's a person with a limited affection—a protictionist an' anti-expansionist, a mugwump, be hivins.

    Mr. Dooley's Philosophy | Finley Peter Dunne

British Dictionary definitions for expansionism

expansionism

/ (ɪkˈspænʃəˌnɪzəm) /


noun
  1. the doctrine or practice of expanding the economy or territory of a country

Derived forms of expansionism

  • expansionist, noun, adjective
  • expansionistic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012