What does decolonize mean?
To decolonize is to end colonial rule — either a colonial power granting independence to a territory it controlled, or a formerly colonized people achieving self-governance. The term dominated mid-twentieth-century history, when dozens of nations across Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean emerged from European empires. In recent decades, the word has broadened well beyond formal politics: activists and scholars now speak of decolonizing museums, school curricula, libraries, and even ways of thinking, meaning to strip out colonial-era assumptions and restore marginalized perspectives. This extended usage carries a distinctly progressive, sometimes contested connotation, making the word a flashpoint in cultural debates. Its opposite is "colonize," and its noun form is "decolonization." Whether applied to nations or institutions, the word always carries the core idea of undoing the legacy of imperial control and reclaiming autonomy — political, intellectual, or cultural.
verb(Of a country) to withdraw from being a colony, or (of a colonial power) to grant independence to a former colony; more broadly, to free an institution, field of study, or way of thinking from colonial influence or Eurocentric assumptions.
- (Of a colonial power or territory) to bring an end to colonial rule; to grant or gain independence from colonial control.
- (Extended use) to free institutions, disciplines, language, or thought from colonial-era structures, biases, and perspectives.
"The nation spent decades working to decolonize its education system after independence."
"India decolonized in 1947 after nearly two centuries of British rule."
"Scholars have called for universities to decolonize their syllabi by including voices beyond the Western canon."
The word "decolonize" didn't exist when most of Africa and Asia gained independence — it was coined in the 1930s by German economist Moritz Bonn, just as the age of empire began to crumble.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of decolonize
"Decolonize" was formed from the prefix "de-" (indicating reversal) plus "colonize," which itself derives from Latin "colonus," meaning farmer or settler, via "colonia," a settlement established in conquered territory — the same root that gives us "colony" and "colonial." The word was reportedly coined in the 1930s by the German economist Moritz Bonn, who wrote on imperialism as European empires approached their decline. It entered widespread English usage after World War II, when decolonization reshaped the global map.
Related word forms
How decolonize is actually used
Originally a neutral political-science term for the transfer of power from empires to new nations, "decolonize" has since acquired a strong activist connotation in its extended sense, particularly in debates over museums, curricula, and public monuments. Because of this, the figurative uses can be politically charged, and writers should be aware that some readers may perceive them as ideological rather than descriptive.
Easily confused with decolonize
"Decommission" means to withdraw something (like a ship or facility) from active service, while "decolonize" refers specifically to ending colonial rule or removing colonial influences.