imperialism
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.
imperialist
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a word derived from
imperialism.
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a word derived from
imperialism.
imperialismnounthe policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies.
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.
History shows, if anything, that imperialist ventures in Latin America don’t always pay off.
From Barron's ● Jan. 18, 2026
Roosevelt made little secret of his own imperialist designs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2025
Now, it's important to distinguish his belief that "to the victor belongs the spoils" in the imperialist context from a "spoils system" in the domestic context, which he also believes in.
From Salon ● Feb. 10, 2025
"The threat may not feel as urgent as a terrorist or an imperialist autocrat. But it is more fundamental. It is systemic, it's pervasive and accelerating towards us at pace," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2024
Yet a third theory is that the Zapotec of Monte Alban—not the Olmec of La Venta—consolidated to form North America’s first imperialist power, an aggressive state that subjugated dozens of other villages.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
