What does nonintervention mean?
Nonintervention is the deliberate decision not to interfere in a dispute, political situation, or the internal affairs of another country or group. It is especially associated with diplomacy and international relations, where it may mean respecting sovereignty, avoiding escalation, or allowing parties to resolve a conflict without outside involvement. The word is not simply another word for doing nothing: it implies a conscious choice to refrain from acting. Nonintervention can be neutral or temporary, as when an organization promises not to intervene while negotiations take place, but it can also name a sustained policy, such as a state’s declared approach to its neighbors. Its meaning should be distinguished from neutrality, which focuses on not taking sides, and from intervention, which involves acting to influence events.
nounThe practice or policy of deliberately refraining from intervening in a situation, especially the internal affairs of another country or group. It implies choosing not to interfere, often in accordance with a principle of restraint or respect for political boundaries.
- The policy or practice of refraining from involvement in the affairs of another country, group, or situation.
- A deliberate decision not to interfere in a dispute or course of events.
"The government maintained a policy of nonintervention in the neighboring country's internal conflict."
"The organization called for nonintervention and dialogue between the two sides."
"Her nonintervention in the dispute allowed the participants to resolve the conflict themselves."
The plural is uncommon and is mainly used when referring to separate policies or instances of nonintervention.
"The crisis tested the government's repeated noninterventions in regional conflicts."
Nonintervention is the diplomatic art of knowing when not to act.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of nonintervention
Nonintervention was formed in English by combining the Latin-derived prefix non- with intervention, a word based on Latin inter-, meaning “between” or “among,” and venire, meaning “to come.” Intervention originally referred to coming between or interfering in a matter. The prefixed form became especially prominent in political language in the 19th century, particularly in discussions of international relations and state policy.
Related word forms
How nonintervention is actually used
The term is most common in political and diplomatic contexts. It can describe either a general policy of restraint or a specific decision not to interfere in a particular situation.
Easily confused with nonintervention
Nonintervention means deliberately avoiding involvement, whereas intervention means becoming involved in order to alter or influence a situation.
Nonintervention specifically emphasizes refraining from interference, while neutrality more broadly describes taking no sides in a dispute.