colonialism

American  

[kuh-loh-nee-uh-liz-uhm] / kəˈloʊ ni əˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. the control or governing influence of a nation over a dependent country, territory, or people.

2. the system or policy by which a nation maintains or advocates control or influence over a dependent country, territory, or people.

3. the state or condition of being colonial.

4. an idea, custom, or practice peculiar to a colony.

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colonialism British  

/ kəˈləʊnɪəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. Also called: imperialism.  the policy and practice of a power in extending control over weaker peoples or areas

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colonialism Cultural  

1. The control of one nation by “transplanted” people of another nation — often a geographically distant nation that has a different culture and dominant racial or ethnic group. (See ethnicity.)

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Discover More

Control that is economic and cultural, rather than political, is often called neocolonialism.

A classic example of colonialism is the control of India by Britain from the eighteenth century to 1947.

Other Word Forms

• colonialist
  noun
• colonialistic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of colonialism

First recorded in 1850–55; colonial ( def. ) + -ism ( def. )

Explanation

Colonialism has to do with one country exploiting another country by making it into a colony. Which is usually good for the mother country and bad for the colony. Colonialism is a system in which one country creates an empire by taking over other lands and making them into colonies. Colonies don't have power over themselves, and the mother country takes resources and money from the colony. It's not a very fair system, but it's also how the United States got its start: England was really into colonialism and had built a huge empire, until some feisty American patriots decided to rebel.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

colonialism

This is evident in the depiction of Kip, a Sikh man finding his way in the English world of colonialism.

From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026

“Fist of Fury” saw him opposing Japanese colonialism and discrimination.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026

Gilles Yabi, a Senegal-based political analyst focusing on relations between France and Africa, told the BBC's Newsday programme: "There's a new generation of Africans who… want to turn the page on colonialism and post-colonial influence."

From BBC ● May 12, 2026

Everyone is doomed in Mr. Diaz’s account of European colonialism and exploratory naval history—not just the primitive Filipinos and Indonesians but the Portuguese on the mission from their silent God.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

Modern Indigenous nations and communities are societies shaped by their resistance to colonialism.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz