colonization
UK: ˌkɒlənaɪˈzeɪʃən | US: ˌkɑːlənəˈzeɪʃən
n. the action or process of settling among and establishing control over the indigenous people of an area
n. the action of appropriating a place or domain for one's own use
colonization = colon<settlement> + ize<verb suffix> + ation<noun suffix>
- colon: From Latin colonia ("settlement, farm, landed estate"), derived from colonus ("farmer, tenant"). Originally referred to Roman outposts established to cultivate land.
- ize: A verb-forming suffix from Greek -izein, indicating "to make, to act upon."
- ation: A noun-forming suffix from Latin -atio, denoting "the process or result of an action."
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Roman agricultural expansion, where colonia were settlements built to farm conquered lands. Over time, colonization evolved to describe the broader process of political and cultural domination, reflecting European imperial practices. The suffix -ize transforms the noun into a verb ("to colonize"), while -ation returns it to a noun form, emphasizing the systemic nature of the process.
The colonization of the Americas by European powers displaced indigenous populations.
Critics argue that economic colonization persists through corporate globalization.
The museum exhibit explores the cultural impacts of colonization in Africa.
Space colonization remains a controversial topic among scientists.
Historical records reveal the brutal methods used during colonization.