Colonialism
noun /kəˈloʊ.ni.ə.lɪ.z(ə)m/ — The practice of establishing political control over other peoples.
Definition
The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. Colonialism combined territorial, economic, and cultural domination in ways that reshaped the modern world.
Beyond the definition
Colonialism's most durable legacy is not in the territories it controlled but in the minds it shaped — the hierarchies it installed that persisted after the maps were redrawn.
Origin & history
From 'colony' + '-alism'; 'colony' from Latin 'colonia' (farm, settlement). The systematic colonial projects of European powers from the 15th–20th centuries gave the term its modern meaning.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The decolonization movement of the mid-20th century changed the political map but not always the economic structures.
She studied colonial history to understand the present — the lines on maps, the languages spoken, the wealth distributions.
Internal colonialism describes how dominant groups within a nation can colonize minority groups without leaving home.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Colonialism” when the meaning fits your context: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. Colonialism combined territorial, economic, and cultural domination in ways that reshaped the modern world.
Synonyms
imperialism, occupation, domination
Antonyms
decolonization, self-determination, sovereignty
Related words
Colonialism vs imperialism
Colonialism is the practical application of building colonies. Imperialism is the ideology or power-dynamic that motivates the acquisition of colonies.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Adults With Clear Power Imbalance
One dominant person stands tall while another looks down, clearly excluded from the process and experiencing a visible power imbalance.
Colonialism is the practice of acquiring political and economic control over another territory. The exclusion of the second person emphasizes the structural dominance and exploitation that define the colonial relationship.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Colonialism" mean?
Colonialism is noun meaning: The practice of establishing political control over other peoples.. The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. Colonialism combined territorial, economic, and cultural domination in ways that reshaped the modern world.
Where does the word "Colonialism" come from?
From 'colony' + '-alism'; 'colony' from Latin 'colonia' (farm, settlement). The systematic colonial projects of European powers from the 15th–20th centuries gave the term its modern meaning.