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anticolonial

anticolonial

6.8
A person who opposes foreign rule and supports a country's independence
  • noun
  • /ˌæntiˈkoʊniəl/
translation icon : anticolonial
  • Many anticolonials gathered in the square to celebrate the anniversary of their nation's independence.

Examples

  • The dozen or so that had appeared with the smudgy sunrise had drawn local onlookers in droves, then busloads of anticolonials from up and down the East Coast.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Nor about the unknown snitch who leaked the news just hours ago, angering anticolonials and shaking the President's nerve.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The anticolonial group organized a peaceful protest to advocate for independence.

  • As an anticolonial activist, she worked tirelessly to educate others about the effects of colonialism.

Synonyms

nationalist
vsanticolonial
62 6.1

A person who strongly supports their country and its interests

prioritizes opposing rule by outside powers and seeking independence rather than country loyalty
autonomist
vsanticolonial
1 8.4

Supporting self-government for a region

advocates ending rule by outside powers and achieving full national independence
liberationist
vsanticolonial
1 7.4

Supporting movements that work for political and social freedom and equality

focuses specifically on opposing rule by outside powers and seeking independence
independista
vsanticolonial
8.1

A person who wants their region to become a new country

focuses on opposing rule by outside powers rather than all independence movements

Antonyms

5 7.8

A person who supports a country taking control of other lands

How Anticolonial

anticolonial
6.8
neutral
218 3.6

Surface Forms

anticolonial singular
anticolonials plural

Morphology

anticolonial = anticolonial (semi-transparent) = anti + colony + al

This noun is a converted substantive use of the adjective, so the form is unchanged but the person-denoting meaning is a slightly specialized extension.

Etymology

An anticolonial is a person who is 'against' colonial rule. The word uses anti- meaning 'against' and colonial from colony meaning 'settlement', so an anticolonial works for independence from foreign rulers.