Decolonify

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Freeing a society, institution or culture from the lingering influence of colonial rule and its values
2. Stripping away the legacies of colonialism from the systems, customs and thinking of a community
3. Removing colonial structures, ideas and dominance so that a people can govern and define themselves

Etymology: "Decolonify" is a verb formed by adding the prefix "de-" to "colonify," itself built from "colony" and the suffix "-ify." The pieces are old: "colony" comes from Latin "colonia," a settlement of Roman citizens, derived from "colonus," a farmer or settler, and "-ify" comes from Latin "-ficare," meaning to make or to cause to be, as in "simplify" or "clarify." The "de-" prefix, borrowed from Latin "de-" meaning "away" or "reversal," is what gives the word its sense of undoing. "Decolonify" is a modern formation, first recorded in the 20th century, most likely in the years when many African and Asian territories were gaining independence from European empires. Its meaning is to remove colonial structures, influence, or mindsets, as opposed to the older and more common "decolonize."

Synonyms: decolonize, decolonise

Antonyms: colonize, colonise