1. the process or policy of establishing colonies or extending control over foreign territories and their peoples
Usage: often used in historical and political contexts; frequently associated with European expansion from the 15th–20th centuries

Examples

• The colonialization of Africa by European powers reshaped the continent's political boundaries.
• Historians study the effects of colonialization on indigenous populations.
• The colonialization of the Americas began in the late 15th century.
• Many nations sought to reverse the colonialization imposed during the imperial era.
• The colonialization process often involved the exploitation of natural resources and labor.
• Scholars debate the long-term consequences of European colonialization in Asia.