adventurism

American  

[ad-ven-chuh-riz-uhm] / ædˈvɛn tʃəˌrɪz əm /

noun

1. defiance or disregard of accepted standards of behavior.

2. rash or irresponsible policies, methods, or actions, especially in political or international affairs.

---

adventurism British  

/ ədˈvɛntʃəˌrɪzəm /

noun

1. recklessness, esp in politics and finance

---

Usage

What does adventurism mean? Adventurism is recklessness or risk-taking that disregards accepted standards of behavior. It is often used in political context to refer to rash or reckless policies or military actions.Unlike adventure and adventurous, which are almost always used positively, adventurism is almost always used negatively. It is typically used in discussion of political policies or actions considered irresponsible and poorly planned or thought out.Example: The unrest in the region follows decades of imperial adventurism that ignored the balance of power between the different groups.

Other Word Forms

• adventurist noun
• adventuristic adjective

Etymology

Origin of adventurism

1835–45; adventure + -ism, as translation of Russian avantyurízm

Example Sentences

A State Department spokesman said the sanctions were a direct response to Rwanda’s military adventurism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Yet those attacks have done little, if anything, to slow down, much less halt, the Houthis’ adventurism.

From Slate • Jan. 19, 2024

I did pick up hunting, because of my addiction to food adventurism.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2023

"We don't want to bury the reforms," he added, but "bringing it to a vote before it is clear that there is support for it would be adventurism that is best avoided".

From Reuters • Mar. 26, 2023

That’s bad news for regulatory adventurism at the SEC, Barr believes.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 16, 2022