What does decolonise mean?
To decolonise is to bring an end to colonial rule or to undo its enduring effects. In its primary sense, the verb describes the historical process by which a colony gains independence from an imperial power — a wave of change that reshaped Asia and Africa chiefly in the mid-twentieth century. Increasingly, however, the word is used in an expanded sense: to decolonise a curriculum, a museum, or a body of thought means to root out assumptions, hierarchies, and narratives inherited from the colonial era. The term derives from 'colony', ultimately from the Latin colonia, meaning a settlement, combined with the prefixes de- ('undo') and -ise ('to make'). Spelled decolonise in British English and decolonize in American English, the word is prominent in postcolonial studies, activism, and public policy debate. Its connotations range from celebratory, marking liberation and self-determination, to contentious, when applied to reforming institutions rather than territories. Understanding decolonise is essential for following modern discussions about history, culture, and power.
verbTo free a country, people, or institution from colonial control or influence, or to remove the lingering colonial assumptions and structures from a system of thought or practice.
- To grant political independence to a territory formerly ruled as a colony, ending formal colonial governance.
- To dismantle the cultural, intellectual, or institutional legacies of colonialism — for example by revising curricula, repatriating artefacts, or challenging colonial-era narratives.
"After independence, the new government moved quickly to decolonise the education system, replacing textbooks written under British rule."
"Most African nations decolonised during the 1950s and 1960s as European empires withdrew."
"Activists are calling on the museum to decolonise its collections by returning artefacts taken during the colonial era."
The word decolonise is barely a century old, yet it now appears everywhere from university curricula to museum boardrooms — proof that ending empires was only the beginning.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of decolonise
Decolonise is formed from the noun colony, borrowed into English from Latin colonia, meaning a settlement or landed estate, itself derived from colere, 'to cultivate or inhabit'. The prefix de- reverses the action, while the suffix -ise forms a verb, so the word literally means 'to undo colonization'. The term arose in the twentieth century as European empires began dismantling their overseas territories, and it gained widespread use from the 1940s onward alongside decolonisation. Its Latin root also gives English related words such as colonist and cultivate.
Related word forms
How decolonise is actually used
Standard British spelling with -ise; American English uses -ize (decolonize). The word carries strong connotations in contemporary academic, political, and cultural debates, where the extended sense — decolonising institutions, knowledge, or practices — can be contested. In historical writing it typically refers neutrally to the formal process of ending colonial rule after 1945.
Easily confused with decolonise
Decolonise is simply the British spelling and decolonize the American spelling; they mean exactly the same thing.