imperialism

[ im-peer-ee-uh-liz-uh m ]

/ ɪmˈpɪər i əˌlɪz əm /

noun

the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies.

advocacy of imperial or sovereign interests over the interests of the dependent states.

imperial government; rule by an emperor or empress.

an imperial system of government.

British. the policy of so uniting the separate parts of an empire with separate governments as to secure for certain purposes a single state.

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Origin of imperialism

First recorded in 1855–60; imperial¹ + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM imperialism

im·pe·ri·al·ist, noun, adjectiveim·pe·ri·al·is·tic, adjectiveim·pe·ri·al·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbnon·im·pe·ri·al·is·tic, adjective

non·im·pe·ri·al·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbun·im·pe·ri·al·is·tic, adjective

Words nearby imperialism

imperial jade, imperial moth, imperial presidency, imperial valley, imperial war museum, imperialism, imperil, imperious, imperishable, imperium, impermanent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for imperialistic

North Korea thinks The Interview is an act of imperialistic war.
When Countries Lose Their Shit Over American Movies|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The new paradigm is that “wilderness” is a flawed notion and an imperialistic enterprise of distinctly Western origins.
American Wilderness Faces the Firing Squad|Doug Peacock|July 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The picture he paints, though, is one more of failed good intentions then of imperialistic villainy.
This Week’s Hot Reads: December 16, 2013|Nicholas Mancusi|December 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I mean the people who actually saw the war through a conservative—as opposed to jingoistic and imperialistic—lens.
How Conservatives Betrayed Their Principles in the Iraq War|Peter Beinart|December 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Some of those old missionaries were imperialistic, all right!
Have We No Rights?|Mabel Williamson
It is in no part due to imperialistic aims or acts on the part of Atlantis.
Triplanetary|Edward Elmer Smith
I admire France immensely, and that is why I so much deplore her imperialistic aims beyond the Lebanons.
With the Judans in the Palestine Campaign|J. H. (John Henry) Patterson
In all the countries pursuing an imperialistic policy, we observe an unusual increase of personal power.
Our Revolution|Leon Trotzky
They want India's billions and they want India's man-power for their imperialistic greed.
The New World of Islam|Lothrop Stoddard

British Dictionary definitions for imperialistic

imperialism

/ (ɪmˈpɪərɪəˌlɪzəm) /

noun

the policy or practice of extending a state's rule over other territories

an instance or policy of aggressive behaviour by one state against another

the extension or attempted extension of authority, influence, power, etc, by any person, country, institution, etccultural imperialism

a system of imperial government or rule by an emperor

the spirit, character, authority, etc, of an empire

advocacy of or support for any form of imperialism

Derived forms of imperialism

imperialist, adjective, nounimperialistic, adjectiveimperialistically, adverb

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

Cultural definitions for imperialistic

imperialism

Acquisition by a government of other governments or territories, or of economic or cultural power over other nations or territories, often by force. Colonialism is a form of imperialism.