non·in·ter·ven·tion
ˌnän-ˌin-tər-ˈven(t)-shən 
: the state or policy of not intervening
nonintervention in the affairs of other countries
: one who does not intervene or favors nonintervention
the God of the Deists was … a noninterventionist—
W. L. Sperry
W. L. Sperry
especially
: one who favors nonintervention in the affairs of another country
the trend of his votes revealed him as a noninterventionist —Current Biography
Current Biography "
: implementing or favorable to nonintervention
noninterventionist policies
turned from a noninterventionist stand to one of internationalism—Current Biography
Current BiographyExamples of nonintervention in a Sentence
Noun (1)
The country has adopted a policy of nonintervention.
Recent Examples on the Web
Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Mar. 2026
For China and Russia, the strikes confirmed long-standing critiques of U.S. militarism; for Brazil and South Africa, countries that have historically prioritized nonintervention and peaceful conflict resolution, the attack was seen as a reckless move that undermined global stability.
—Oliver Stuenkel, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2025
During Trump’s first term in office, the images of the aftermath of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s chemical-weapons strike on civilians, including children, convinced the president to reverse his policy of nonintervention in that country’s civil war.
—Seth Mandel, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Any future presence in Ukraine would signal a major shift in Chinese foreign policy away from decades of nonintervention.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
President-elect Donald Trump called for nonintervention in Syria, blaming the escalating situation on former President Barack Obama.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Dec. 2024
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Noun
After World War II the use of military force to impose political or economic demands increasingly conflicted with emerging legal norms that emphasized sovereignty and nonintervention.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Mar. 2026
For China and Russia, the strikes confirmed long-standing critiques of U.S. militarism; for Brazil and South Africa, countries that have historically prioritized nonintervention and peaceful conflict resolution, the attack was seen as a reckless move that undermined global stability.
—Oliver Stuenkel, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2025
During Trump’s first term in office, the images of the aftermath of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s chemical-weapons strike on civilians, including children, convinced the president to reverse his policy of nonintervention in that country’s civil war.
—Seth Mandel, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Any future presence in Ukraine would signal a major shift in Chinese foreign policy away from decades of nonintervention.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
President-elect Donald Trump called for nonintervention in Syria, blaming the escalating situation on former President Barack Obama.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Nonintervention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonintervention. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nonintervention
noun
non·in·ter·ven·tion
ˌnän-ˌint-ər-ˈven-chən
1
: the state or habit of not intervening
2
: refusal or failure to intervene
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