Monroe Doctrine

noun

Mon·​roe Doctrine mən-ˈrō- How to pronounce Monroe Doctrine (audio)
 also  ˈmən-,
 or  ˈmän-
: a statement of U.S. foreign policy expressing opposition to extension of European control or influence in the western hemisphere

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The paper seemed to downplay the reciprocity inherent to the Monroe Doctrine—that the U.S. would aim to avoid interfering in other spheres too. Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 30 Mar. 2023 Theodore Roosevelt invoked the Monroe Doctrine in 1904 when European powers threatened to invade Latin American nations to collect debts. Kerry J. Byrne, Fox News, 2 Dec. 2022 Both sets further offer lesson plans on industrialization, the Spanish-American War, the Monroe Doctrine, the New Deal, America’s role in World War II, the Cold War, and more recent incidents such as 9/11, among other topics. Hannah Natanson, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2022 The Monroe Doctrine has been the cornerstone of US policy in the Americas for almost two centuries. Brad Lendon, CNN, 13 June 2022 China, pushing its aggressive Belt and Road initiative, is threatening U.S. hegemony in Latin America dating from the Monroe Doctrine. Soudi Jiménez, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2022 The result was the Monroe Doctrine. David M. Shribman, WSJ, 18 Mar. 2022 The United States, invoking the Monroe Doctrine, warned the Europeans against landing troops. Dan Mclaughlin, National Review, 3 Mar. 2022 Written by John Quincy Adams – Monroe’s secretary of state at the time – and issued in 1823, the Monroe Doctrine ringingly demarcated the entire vast territory of the Americas as a new world, immune from European imperialism. Steve Donoghue, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Nov. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Monroe Doctrine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

James Monroe

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Monroe Doctrine was in 1850

Dictionary Entries Near Monroe Doctrine

Cite this Entry

“Monroe Doctrine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Monroe%20Doctrine. Accessed 4 Jun. 2023.

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