imperialism
n. uncountablen. a system where a powerful country controls other countries or lands, often by using its military or money. This is usually done to gain more power, land, or resources.
n. the policy or practice of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by establishing economic and political hegemony over other nations.
The history of the 19th century was shaped by European imperialism.
Critics argued that the corporation's aggressive expansion into foreign markets was a modern form of economic imperialism.
Scholars often distinguish between formal imperialism, involving direct military conquest, and informal imperialism, where influence is exerted through lopsided trade agreements and cultural dominance.
From imperial + -ism.
Uncountable in its general sense; can be countable when referring to specific historical instances or different types of the ideology.