interventionism

American  

[in-ter-ven-shuh-niz-uhm] / ˌɪn tərˈvɛn ʃəˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. the policy or doctrine of intervening, especially government interference in the affairs of another state or in domestic economic affairs.

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Other Word Forms

• interventionist noun

Etymology

Origin of interventionism

First recorded in 1920–25; intervention + -ism

Compare meaning

How does interventionism compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• isolationism vs. interventionism

Example Sentences

“We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s going to be positive,” said the vice president, who is known for being skeptical of military interventionism.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

One theory is that the Iranians may view Vance as a more likely partner for diplomacy given his widely reported opposition to the war, and general doubts about US interventionism.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

I asked Graham if he felt that he had won the battle against Paul in favor of interventionism.

From Slate • Jan. 7, 2026

Ultimately, Sharma argues in favor of rethinking outdated models of economic policymaking and interventionism.

From Salon • Dec. 31, 2024

Yet, these are generally the same Americans whose eager interventionism helped push America into the two world wars of this century.

From The Invisible Government by Smoot, Dan