n.
Pronunciation: im- ' pir- ē - ə - ˌ li-z ə m
Function: noun
Date: 1826
1 : imperial government, authority, or system
2 : the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas broadly : the extension or imposition of power, authority, or influence <union imperialism >
– im · pe · ri · al · ist \ -list \ noun or adjective
– im · pe · ri · al · is · tic \ - ˌ pir- ē - ə - ' lis-tik \ adjective
– im · pe · ri · al · is · ti · cal · ly \ -ti-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb