imperialism

im·pe·ri·al·ism

noun \im-ˈpir-ē-ə-ˌli-zəm\

Definition of IMPERIALISM

1

: imperial government, authority, or system

2

: the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas; broadly : the extension or imposition of power, authority, or influence <union imperialism>

— im·pe·ri·al·ist \-list\ noun or adjective

— im·pe·ri·al·is·tic \-ˌpir-ē-ə-ˈlis-tik\ adjective

— im·pe·ri·al·is·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of IMPERIALISM

1. British imperialism created the enormous British Empire.

First Known Use of IMPERIALISM

1800

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with IMPERIALISM

abolitionism, academicism, agrarianism, anthropomorphism, anti-Semitism, bicameralism, colloquialism, colonialism, constitutionalism, cosmopolitism, ecumenicism, exceptionalism, exhibitionism, existentialism, fundamentalism, Hegelianism, hermaphroditism, hyperrealism, industrialism, instrumentalism, interventionism, irrationalism, isolationism, Malthusianism, Manichaeanism, materialism, millennialism, Monophysitism, multilingualism, neoclassicism, Neoplatonism, neorealism, Nestorianism, Occidentalism, orientalism, parochialism, Pelagianism, phenomenalism, photojournalism, pictorialism, Postimpressionism, professionalism, pseudoclassicism, reconstructionism, republicanism, Rosicrucianism, sacerdotalism, self-determinism, sadomasochism, sectarianism, sensationalism, sentimentalism, spiritualism, Tractarianism, traditionalism, transcendentalism, ultramontanism, universalism, utopianism, vocationalism