Dictionary

imperialism

noun im·pe·ri·al·ism \im-ˈpir-ē-ə-ˌli-zəm\

: a policy or practice by which a country increases its power by gaining control over other areas of the world

: the effect that a powerful country or group of countries has in changing or influencing the way people live in other, poorer countries

Full Definition of IMPERIALISM

1
:  imperial government, authority, or system
2
:  the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas; broadly :  the extension or imposition of power, authority, or influence <union imperialism>
im·pe·ri·al·ist \-list\ noun or adjective
im·pe·ri·al·is·tic \-ˌpir-ē-ə-ˈlis-tik\ adjective
im·pe·ri·al·is·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
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First Known Use of IMPERIALISM

1800

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

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