Spanish word

imperialista

Pronunciation

IPA/impeɾjaˈlista/

Meaning

  • noun (m./f.)imperialist

Example

Él es un imperialista.

He is an imperialist.

Illustration for imperialista (imperialist)

More examples

En la cena familiar lo llamaron imperialista en broma.

At the family dinner they jokingly called him an imperialist.

Core concept

Person pushing national borders outward.

Common phrases

  • parecer un imperialista

    seem like an imperialist

  • tener fama de imperialista

    be reputed to be an imperialist

Similar words

colonialista: Favors setting up overseas colonies and direct governance of conquered lands.
expansionista: Pursues enlargement of state borders or spheres of influence as an official policy.

Definition in Spanish

Persona identificada con el imperialismo, que promueve la dominación o el control de un país sobre otros.

Word origin

The Spanish noun comes from imperial 'imperial' plus the agentive suffix -ista, ultimately from Latin imperialis meaning 'of the empire'.

Usage tips

  • As a political label, imperialista is strongly accusatory, so speakers often soften it with phrases like tiene ideas imperialistas rather than calling someone imperialista directly.

Other meanings

  • imperialisticadjective

Opposites

  • antiimperialistaanti-imperialistnoun

Related words

  • imperialismoimperialismnoun
  • imperialimperialadjective

Word lists with this word