COLONIALISM Definition & Meaning

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colonialism

[ kuh-loh-nee-uh-liz-uhm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the control or governing influence of a nation over a dependent country, territory, or people.
the system or policy by which a nation maintains or advocates control or influence over a dependent country, territory, or people.
the state or condition of being colonial.
an idea, custom, or practice peculiar to a colony.

colonialism

/ ��əˈ��əʊ��ɪəˌ��ɪ��ə�� /

noun

the policy and practice of a power in extending control over weaker peoples or areas Also calledimperialism

colonialism

The control of one nation by “transplanted” people of another nation — often a geographically distant nation that has a different culture and dominant racial or ethnic group. ( See ethnicity .)

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Notes

Control that is economic and cultural, rather than political, is often called neocolonialism .

A classic example of colonialism is the control of India by Britain from the eighteenth century to 1947.

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Derived Forms

��ˈ��ǲԾ��, nounadjective

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Other �y��vlogs From

��·��·�Ծ�·��·�� noun adjective
��·��·�Ծ�·��·��·�پ�� [k, uh, -loh-nee-, uh, -, lis, -tik], adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of colonialism¹

First recorded in 1850–55; colonial ( def ) + -ism ( def )

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Example Sentences

The setting offered stunning natural beauty but also rich themes to explore, particularly American colonialism and the plight of Native Hawaiians.

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For many in Nigeria, the Benin Bronzes are a potent reminder of the violence of colonialism.

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A previous chamber opera, “The Refusal of Time,” seen at UCLA’s Royce Hall seven years ago, was a supercharged planetary exploration of 19th century South African colonialism.

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Poet Benjamin Zephaniah turned down an OBE over its associations with colonialism.

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He forgot colonialism and he forgot the gold and he forgot the slavery.

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