What does colonialist mean?
A colonialist is a person who supports, practices, or benefits from colonialism — the policy by which a powerful nation takes political control of foreign territories and governs them, usually to extract wealth or extend influence. The word also works as an adjective, describing policies, institutions, or attitudes that reflect this mindset, as in 'colonialist legislation' or 'a colonialist worldview.' Derived from 'colony,' a term rooted in the Latin 'colonia' meaning settled farmland, it entered general use in the nineteenth century alongside the expansion of European empires. Today it is rarely used neutrally: it carries strong critical connotations and appears frequently in historical scholarship, postcolonial studies, and debates about the legacies of empire. It should be distinguished from 'colonist,' which simply denotes a settler in a new land without implying endorsement of imperial rule. Related terms include 'imperialist,' which emphasizes empire-building more broadly, and 'neo-colonialist,' describing modern forms of economic or cultural domination without formal territorial rule.
A person who supports, advocates, or engages in colonialism — the practice of acquiring and maintaining political control over foreign territories and their peoples.
"The museum's exhibit examined the lives of ordinary soldiers alongside those of the colonialists who directed them."
In contemporary usage the noun almost always carries pejorative force.
Relating to, characterized by, or supporting colonialism or its typical policies and attitudes.
"Scholars continue to debate the colonialist assumptions embedded in older maps of Africa."
Standard regular plural; applies only to the noun sense.
"The negotiations were dominated by the demands of the colonialists rather than the local leaders."
The word 'colonialist' didn't peak during the age of empire — it became most widespread in the decades after empires collapsed, when the world began naming what had been done to it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of colonialist
Colonialist derives from 'colony,' ultimately from the Latin 'colonia,' meaning a settlement or tract of farmland established by Roman citizens, itself from 'colonus,' a farmer or tiller of the soil. The adjective 'colonial' formed first, and 'colonialist' emerged in the nineteenth century as European imperial expansion made the politics of colonization a subject of intense debate. Its cognates include 'colonize,' 'colonialism,' and 'neocolonialism,' all built on the same Latin root.
How colonialist is actually used
Almost always used with negative connotations in modern English, functioning more often as a term of criticism than neutral description. It is common in academic writing on history, postcolonial studies, and political discourse.
Easily confused with colonialist
A colonist is a settler who establishes residence in a new territory, whereas a colonialist is a supporter or agent of the broader political system of colonialism — one can be a colonist without endorsing colonialist ideology.