westernization

American  

[wes-ter-nahy-zey-shuhn] / ˌwɛs tər naɪˈzeɪ ʃən /

especially British, westernisation

noun

1. the process of adopting, or of influencing others to adopt, ideas and practices characteristic of Europe and North America.

   Once preferred by most women in India, the sari became less popular due to westernization, with young women now preferring other attire such as skirts or pants.

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Etymology

Origin of westernization

westerniz(e) ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )

Explanation

Westernization is what happens when Eastern countries adopt cultural practices from Europe or North America. A McDonalds in Sri Lanka is an example of westernization. If someone from a non-Western country — one that's not in the Americas, Australasia, or most of Europe — takes on values, culture, or behavior that comes from Western society, that's westernization. This can happen in many different ways, including adopting English instead of a native language, wearing typically Western clothes, abandoning a religious belief in favor of Christianity, or even watching Hollywood movies. A major downside to westernization is that ancient traditions and practices can be lost.