English Explanatory Dictionary

decolonize

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To release from the status of colony; to allow a colony to become independent.
  2. To reverse the colonization of, i.e. to grant back autonomy to a group.

Pronunciation

/diːˈkɒlənaɪz/

Word forms

decolonize decolonizes decolonizing decolonized

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h₁ Proto-Indo-European *déh₁ Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē-der. English de- Proto-Indo-European *kʷelh₁- Proto-Indo-European *kʷélh₁-e-ti Proto-Italic *kʷelō Latin colō Latin colōnus Latin colōniader. Middle English colane English colony Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English colonize English decolonize From de- + colonize.

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