irredentism

[ ir-i-den-tiz-uhm ]

noun

1. (usually initial capital letter) an Italian association that became prominent in 1878, advocating the incorporation into Italy of certain neighboring regions having a primarily Italian population:

   After World War II, Irredentism faded away in Italian politics.

2. the acquisition or annexation of a region previously included in another country because of cultural, historical, ethnic, racial, or other ties, or advocacy for such an acquisition:

   Few countries are explicitly mandating irredentism, but having ethnic communities divided by borders created by colonialists is hugely troublesome.

Word History and Origins

Origin of irredentism¹

First recorded in 1880–85; irredent(ism) ( def ) + -ist ( def )

Example Sentences

And irredentism is one of the worst political plagues for all the three parties who usually suffer from it.

From Project Gutenberg

Most of all she has to be careful not to claim territory, which would mean everlasting unrest and a new irredentism.

From Project Gutenberg

The west shut its eyes tight and threw money at the bad spirits of irredentism and re-emergent communism.

From Project Gutenberg

European Unionism clashed with brown-turning-black nationalism and irredentism.

From Project Gutenberg

The first motif is that of regional rivalry coupled with irredentism.

From Project Gutenberg