decolonise

D2E1C3O1L1O1N1I1S1E1

A form of decolonize — To release from the status of colony; to allow a colony to become independent.

Similar
decolonize
Opposite
colonise
OriginEnglish colonise ← Latin dē- ← Proto-Italic *dē →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

verbdecolonise (third-person singular simple present decolonises, present participle decolonising, simple past and past participle decolonised)

present singular third person decolonises · participle present decolonising · participle past decolonised · past decolonised

  1. alternativeAlternative spelling of decolonize.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbgrant independence to (a former colony)

Similar
decolonize
Opposite
colonise
Broader
liberateset free
Also see
decolonize

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*de
  2. Proto-Indo-European*déh₁
  3. Proto-Italic*dē
  4. Latindē
  5. Latindē-
  6. Englishde-
  7. Englishcolonise
  8. Englishdecolonise

From de- + colonise.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

decolonise. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/decolonise

MLA

“decolonise.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/decolonise. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “decolonise,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/decolonise.

Source: decolonise on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.