neocolonialism

noun

neo·​co·​lo·​nial·​ism ˌnē-ō-kə-ˈlōn-yə-ˌli-zəm 

-ˈlō-nē-ə-ˌli-

: the economic and political policies by which a great power indirectly maintains or extends its influence over other areas or people

… wary opponents of neocolonialism are scrupulous about keeping their nonaligned credentials intact.

—The Economist

neocolonial

ˌnē-ō-kə-ˈlōn-yəl 

-ˈlō-nē-əl

adjective

neocolonialist

ˌnē-ō-kə-ˈlōn-yə-list 

-ˈlō-nē-ə-list

noun or adjective

Examples of neocolonialism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Viewers can expect this tale of neocolonialism with echoes of #MeToo to leave a sour taste in their mouths. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026

Trump knows it, but still took a stab from his privileged bully pulpit in Switzerland with the zeal of neocolonialism. — Philip Elliott, Time, 21 Jan. 2026

Trump was misinformed by anarchists and lackeys and apprentices of neocolonialism who aimed to benefit from their seeds of division, divisiveness and discontent. — Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2025

Especially once Israel occupied Arab lands beyond the 1948 borders, the Palestinian struggle was folded into a global fight against colonialism and neocolonialism. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025

Through El Hadji’s obsession with masculinity, Sembène also explores how the patriarchy shaped postcolonial nations by reinforcing neocolonialism. — Lovia Gyarkye, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2025

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the dictatorships and the many ways in which neocolonialism and the setting up of a power structure that still oppresses Africans is happening at the moment. — Sean Illing, Vox, 6 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

neo- + colonialism

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for neocolonialism

• absolutism
• adventurism
• aestheticism
• africanism
• agnosticism
• alcoholism
• anachronism
• anglicanism
• antagonism
• arianism
• asceticism
• astigmatism