definitions

expansionism

[ ik-span-shuh-niz-uh m ]
/ ɪkˈspæn ʃəˌnɪz əm /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR expansionism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a policy of expansion, as of territory or currency: the colonial expansionism of Europe in the 19th century.

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RELATED WORDS

imperialism, development, progress

Nearby words

expansion joint, expansion slot, expansion team, expansion wave, expansionary, expansionism, expansive, expansive bit, expansive classification, expansivity, expat

Origin of expansionism

First recorded in 1895–1900; expansion + -ism

Related forms

ex·pan·sion·ist, noun, adjectiveex·pan·sion·is·tic, adjectivean·ti·ex·pan·sion·ism, nounan·ti·ex·pan·sion·ist, noun, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for expansionism

British Dictionary definitions for expansionism

expansionism

/ (ɪkˈspænʃəˌnɪzəm) /

noun

the doctrine or practice of expanding the economy or territory of a country

Derived Forms

expansionist, noun, adjectiveexpansionistic, 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