neocolonialism

American  

[nee-oh-kuh-loh-nee-uh-liz-uhm] / ˌni oʊ kəˈloʊ ni əˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. the policy of a strong nation in seeking political and economic hegemony over an independent nation or extended geographical area without necessarily reducing the subordinate nation or area to the legal status of a colony.

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neocolonialism British  

/ ˌniːəʊkəˈləʊnɪəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. (in the modern world) political control by an outside power of a country that is in theory sovereign and independent, esp through the domination of its economy

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neocolonialism Cultural  

1. The dominance of strong nations over weak nations, not by direct political control (as in traditional colonialism), but by economic and cultural influence.

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Other Word Forms

• neocolonial
  noun
• neocolonialist
  noun
• neocolonial
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of neocolonialism

First recorded in 1960–65; neo- + colonialism

Explanation

Use the political term neocolonialism to describe the use of capitalism and social pressures by a large country to control a smaller country. The word neocolonialism basically means "a new kind of colonialism," and colonialism is when one country controls another, often using violence. This new kind of colonialism uses non-military ways of gaining control, mostly through economic means, and often makes use of the poorer country's resources in a way that leaves its people dependent on the richer country — and also ensures they'll remain poor.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

neocolonialism

Aid became a bastion of paternalism or, as some came to see it, neocolonialism.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025

For this maneuver to succeed, however, the end of French neocolonialism proved crucial.

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2023

Here's to a brave Haitian population that survives in spite of the depravations of colonialism and neocolonialism!

From New York Times ● Dec. 4, 2017

The new film examines neocolonialism in Sudan, focusing on Chinese oil workers, Christian missionaries from Texas, U.N. peacekeepers and other outsiders, whose sometimes questionable interests collide with those of the country’s inhabitants.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 20, 2015

I have eavesdropped on grad students presenting dissertations about the subtext of neocolonialism in my writing. 

From Scientific American ● Apr. 25, 2013