Imperialism is a system in which a rich and powerful country controls other countries, or a desire for control over other countries.
imperialism in British English
(ɪmˈpɪərɪəˌlɪzəm)
noun
1.
the policy of extending a state's influence over other peoples or territories
Compare colonialism
2.
an instance or policy of aggressive behaviour by one state against another
3.
the extension or attempted extension of authority, influence, power, etc, by any person, country, institution, etc
cultural imperialism
4.
a system of imperial government or rule by an emperor
5.
the spirit, character, authority, etc, of an empire
6.
advocacy of or support for any form of imperialism
Derived forms
imperialist (imˈperialist)
adjective, noun
imperialistic (imˌperialˈistic)
adjective
imperialistically (imˌperialˈistically)
adverb
imperialism in American English
(ɪmˈpɪriəlˌɪzəm)
noun
1.
imperial state, authority, or system of government
2.
the policy and practice of forming and maintaining an empire in seeking to control raw materials and world markets by the conquest of other countries, the establishment of colonies, etc.
3.
the policy and practice of seeking to dominate the economic or political affairs of underdeveloped areas or weaker countries
Derived forms
imperialist (imˈperialist)
noun, adjective
imperialistic (imˌperialˈistic)
adjective
imperialistically (imˌperialˈistically)
adverb
COBUILD Collocations
imperialism
cultural imperialism
Examples of 'imperialism' in a sentence
imperialism
What were their political opinions about American imperialism?
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Their ownership is a form of cultural imperialism.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The first of the essays did not once mention economic imperialism.
Ramirez-Faria, Carlos The Origins of Economic Inequality between Nations: A critique of Western theorieson development and underdevelopment (1990)
The concept of cultural imperialism is dependent on qualitative and quantitative judgements.
Collins, Richard Television - policy and culture (1990)
He was also trying to square what he knew about capitalism with the theory of economic imperialism.
Ramirez-Faria, Carlos The Origins of Economic Inequality between Nations: A critique of Western theorieson development and underdevelopment (1990)
Cultural imperialism is not always a dirty phrase.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Economic imperialism can have a narrow or a wide meaning.
Ramirez-Faria, Carlos The Origins of Economic Inequality between Nations: A critique of Western theorieson development and underdevelopment (1990)
The idea of imbalance and the general theory of economic imperialism could easily be reconciled and made complementary.
Ramirez-Faria, Carlos The Origins of Economic Inequality between Nations: A critique of Western theorieson development and underdevelopment (1990)
What was this bridging role between the narrow theory of economic imperialism and dependency theory that we attributed to it before?
Ramirez-Faria, Carlos The Origins of Economic Inequality between Nations: A critique of Western theorieson development and underdevelopment (1990)
It had the support of most American opponents of imperialism.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
But this was not seen as anything at all like European "imperialism".
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
Japanese colonialism had taken the place of Western imperialism.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
That would send a very powerful signal, and one that could not be dismissed as cultural imperialism.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
A failure to understand this point can actually lead to a form of cultural imperialism.
Christianity Today (2000)
Contrary to what you were probably told at school, imperialism and colonialism were good things and remain so today.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There was no American cultural imperialism.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They were the nadir of British imperialism and we must accept Chinese anger as justifiable.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The Empire ranges over the confused legacy of British imperialism.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Why did Western imperialism change, and push into so many new parts of the world?
Stearns, Peter N. World History: Patterns of Change and Continuity (1995)
This antagonism led to one of the great 19th-century uprisings against Western imperialism.
Stearns, Peter N. World History: Patterns of Change and Continuity (1995)
In Chapter 11 we will discuss some economic theories of imperialism.
Hunt, E. K. Property and Prophets: The Evolution of Economic Institutions and Ideologies (1995)
If one defines imperialism narrowly as a policy of occupying and governing foreign lands, American imperialism lasted for an extremely short time.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
Word lists with
imperialism
government
In other languages
imperialism
British English: imperialism NOUN
Imperialism is a system in which a powerful country controls other countries.
...nations or groups which have been victims of imperialism.