expansionism

noun

ex·​pan·​sion·​ism ik-ˈspan(t)-shə-ˌni-zəm 

: a policy or practice of expansion and especially of territorial expansion by a nation

expansionist

ik-ˈspan(t)-sh(ə-)nist 

noun

expansionist adjective

or less commonly expansionistic

ik-ˌspan(t)-shə-ˈni-stik 

Examples of expansionism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The two defended their actions, including jamming a paper shredder with incriminating documents, as being necessary to secure the release of American hostages being held in Lebanon and to curb Soviet expansionism. —Josh Meyer, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025

There will be no more inching ever-eastward for NATO—the sort of reckless expansionism that helped sparked this conflict in the first place. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025

Canberra awarded a huge contract to a Japanese firm to build advanced warships for Australia’s navy, deepening military ties between two nations increasingly wary of Chinese expansionism. —Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Over the years, she has been pressed into service as an avatar of patient humility or assertive feminism, of American expansionism or Indigenous rights, of Jeffersonian derring-do or native wisdom. —Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 1 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for expansionism

• activism
• ageism
• albinism
• altruism
• aneurism
• animism
• aphorism
• atomism
• barbarism
• bolshevism
• botulism
• brahmanism