colonialism
UK: kəˈləʊ.ni.ə.lɪ.zəm | US: kəˈloʊ.ni.ə.lɪ.zəm
n. The policy or practice of acquiring and maintaining colonies, often for economic exploitation or cultural dominance.
n. A system where one nation extends control over another territory, typically involving settlement and political subjugation.
colonialism = colon<settlement> + ial<adjective suffix> + ism<system or ideology>
- colon: From Latin colonia ("settlement, farm"), derived from colonus ("farmer, settler"). Reflects the historical practice of establishing foreign settlements.
- ial: An adjective-forming suffix indicating relation (e.g., "territorial").
- ism: A noun suffix denoting a system, ideology, or practice (e.g., "capitalism").
Etymology Origin:
The term emerged in the 19th century, combining colony (rooted in Latin colonia) with -ism to describe the ideology of empire-building. The morphemes trace back to Roman agricultural expansion, where colonus referred to farmers cultivating conquered lands—later evolving into the modern concept of political and economic domination.
European colonialism reshaped global trade and cultural landscapes.
Critics argue that colonialism perpetuated inequality and exploitation.
The legacy of colonialism persists in many former colonies' legal systems.
Postcolonial studies examine the effects of colonialism on literature and identity.
Resistance movements often arose in response to colonial oppression.