Imperialism
Etymology
From Latin imperium, “command, sovereign power, empire,” from imperare, “to command.” The word gained its modern edge in nineteenth-century Britain, first describing imperial rule and soon becoming a term of criticism for aggressive expansion. Later theorists extended it to economic domination that need not involve outright colonies, and it is now used both descriptively and as a charge.
noun · /im-PEER-ee-uh-liz-um/
A policy or practice of extending a state’s power over other territories or peoples, through conquest, annexation, or indirect domination.
What it names
A lens for seeing how power projects outward — economically and militarily — even when no formal colonies are involved.
Example
Critics called the trade terms a soft imperialism, controlling the country’s economy without ever raising a flag over it.
Related idea
Colonialism usually refers to settling and directly administering a territory; imperialism is the broader drive to dominate others, of which colonialism is one method.