Meaning

The seizure of geographical area to extract its natural resources or exploit the labor of the indigenous peoples to remotely benefit a distant country..

Definitions by Sense

1. The seizure of geographical area to extract its natural resources or exploit the labor of the indigenous peoples to remotely benefit a distant country.
2. (colloquial, often derogatory) The subjugation of a weaker country, population, or people by a dominant country, population, or people.
3. (by extension, derogatory) Any form of foreign influence seen as undesirable.
4. A colonial word, phrase, concept, or habit.
5. Colonial life.

Example Sentences

Though most of the cases here cover European encounters with non-Europeans, it is not the intention of the book to give the impression that genocide is a function of European colonialism and imperialism alone.

It was the racist, settler colonialism that created whiteness, that created blackness, half-caste, quarter-caste, octoroon, that saw mixed-race people as a third race.

Although the settlement seems so far to have made but slow progress, there are many things which show that, to use a colonialism, "the place was going ahead."

Word Forms

• colonialisms

Related Words

When Should You Use Colonialism?

Use colonialism when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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