superimperialist
|su-per-im-pe-ri-al-ist|
🇺🇸
/ˌsuːpərɪmˌpɪəriˈælɪst/
🇬🇧
/ˌsuːpərɪmˌpɪərɪˈælɪst/
above ordinary imperialism; dominant imperial power
Etymology
'superimperialist' originates from Latin-derived prefix 'super-' (from Latin 'super') meaning 'above' or 'over', combined with 'imperialist' (from French 'impérialiste', ultimately from Latin 'imperialis') where 'imperium' meant 'command' or 'empire'.
'imperialist' came into English via French 'impérialiste' (from Latin 'imperialis' < 'imperium'), and the productive prefix 'super-' (Latin 'super') was attached in modern English to form the compound 'superimperialist' in political discourse of the 20th century.
Initially the components meant 'above' ('super-') and 'relating to empire/command' ('imperial/imperialist'); the compound later came to label a concept of an imperialism that is dominant over or supersedes ordinary imperialism—used especially in critiques of hegemonic powers.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person, state, or political actor that practices or advocates 'superimperialism'—an extreme or overarching form of imperialism in which a dominant power (often a hegemonic state) exerts control over other imperialist states or global institutions.
Critics accused the country of acting like a superimperialist, using economic and military tools to dominate regional rivals.
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Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of 'superimperialism'; extremely imperialist or indicative of a level of imperial domination beyond ordinary imperialism (often used in political or critical discourse).
The policy was described as superimperialist in its disregard for the sovereignty of smaller nations.
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Last updated: 2026/01/11 15:28