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Synonyms

expansionism

American  
[ik-span-shuh-niz-uhm] / ɪkˈspæn ʃəˌnɪz əm /

noun

  1. a policy of expansion, as of territory or currency.

    the colonial expansionism of Europe in the 19th century.
expansionism British  
/ ɪkˈspænʃəˌnɪzəm /

noun

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

"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

Other Word Forms

  • antiexpansionism noun
  • antiexpansionist noun
  • expansionist noun
  • expansionistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of expansionism

First recorded in 1895–1900; expansion + -ism

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

VE Day was a joint Allied triumph over Nazi Germany; over hatred, dictatorship, the Third Reich's territorial expansionism and heinous crimes against humanity.

From BBC • May 3, 2025

New Caledonia is central to Macron’s Indo-Pacific strategy and France’s ability to counter China’s expansionism in the region.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2024

One of the many warring states in this period, the state of Qin, capitalized on these economic and social changes by adopting Legalist reforms to justify an agenda of power and expansionism.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

His expansionism, bluster and repression have produced quantifiable results.

From Washington Post • Oct. 20, 2022

He believed it to be slanted toward American sensibilities, downplaying both anti-Semitism and German expansionism.

From The Public Domain Enclosing the Commons of the Mind by Boyle, James

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.