Decolonize

/diːˈkɒlənaɪz/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To release from the status of colony; to allow a colony to become independent..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To release from the status of colony; to allow a colony to become independent.
2. (transitive, social sciences) To reverse the colonization of, i.e. to grant back autonomy to a group.

Example Sentences

A paternal government would attempt to decolonize American literature, by forbidding the re-publication of foreign works, and offering premiums to those of home production.

Across Ukraine, officials are starting projects to, as they say, “decolonize” their cities. Streets and subway stops whose names evoke the history of the Russian Empire or the Soviet Union are under scrutiny by a population eager to rid itself of traces of the nation that invaded in late February.

The arrival of Trump in the White House gave a new urgency to the idea that museums needed to “decolonize” their collections, atone for their past elitism, and become overtly political institutions rather than mere warehouses of valuable objects.

Synonyms for decolonize

Antonyms for decolonize

Related Words

Word Forms

• decolonizes
• decolonizing
• decolonized

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions