decolonize

verb

de·col·o·nize | \ (ˌ)dē-ˈkä-lə-ˌnīz

How to pronounce decolonize (audio)

\

decolonized; decolonizing; decolonizes

Definition of decolonize

transitive verb

: to free from colonial status

Other Words from decolonize Example Sentences Learn More about decolonize

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of decolonize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Erica Jasmine Moon is a fitness instructor on the path to further decolonize the wellness space. — Michella Oré, Glamour, "31 Inspiring Fitness Women to Follow on Instagram," 17 Nov. 2020 Per a statement, staff have removed a total of 120 human remains from display, moving them to storage as part of a museum-wide effort to decolonize the Pitt Rivers’ collections. — Nora Mcgreevy, Smithsonian Magazine, "Oxford Museum Permanently Removes Controversial Display of Shrunken Heads," 16 Sep. 2020 The Third World nationalists who came to power in decolonizing nations in the 1960s had only recently formed a stratum of colonial rule: lawyers, doctors, poets, and soldiers. — Thomas Meaney, Harper's magazine, "Trumpism After Trump," 20 Jan. 2020 Vietnam braided opposition to communism, itself a tenet of Cold War conflict, with democratic state-building in a decolonizing region. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, "World War III Is an Irresistible Meme," 5 Jan. 2020 The call to decolonize science, as in the case of other disciplines such as literature, can encourage us to rethink the dominant image that scientific knowledge is the work of white men. — Rohan Deb Roy, Smithsonian, "Science Still Bears the Fingerprints of Colonialism," 10 Apr. 2018 Victoria-Lola Leon Guerrero, co-chairwoman of the Independence for Guam Task Force, told the Guam Pacific Daily News that the ruling is disappointing, but that efforts to decolonize will continue. — Washington Post, "Court: Non-native Guam residents can vote on status with US," 31 July 2019 There’s a term for this process: decolonizing my mind. — Melissa Pandika, The Cut, "Before I Embraced My Brownness, I Tried to Lighten My Skin," 31 Jan. 2018 Then, after World War II, with the growing movement to decolonize various places around the world, particularly in the Caribbean and Africa and South America, that also had an impact on Puerto Rico. — Lily Rothman, Time, "Where Hurricane Maria Fits in the History of Puerto Rico," 28 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'decolonize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about decolonize

Dictionary Entries near decolonize

Statistics for decolonize

Cite this Entry

“Decolonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decolonize. Accessed 5 Mar. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster

Comments on decolonize

What made you want to look up decolonize? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

abhor

Listen to the pronunciation of abhor

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Who Knew?

What is a ruelle?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ

Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ