internationalism

noun

in·​ter·​na·​tion·​al·​ism ˌin-tər-ˈna-sh(ə-)nə-ˌli-zəm 

1

: international character, principles, interests, or outlook

2

a

: a policy of cooperation among nations

b

: an attitude or belief favoring such a policy

internationalist

ˌin-tər-ˈna-sh(ə-)nə-list 

noun or adjective

Examples of internationalism in a Sentence

a proponent of economic internationalism

Recent Examples on the Web

The war on terror after 2001 further eroded internationalism, with the United States using its preeminence to coerce, cajole, or flatter nations into joining its military campaigns, with little consideration for how Washington’s actions would damage U.S. relations with the non-Western world. —Michael Brenes, Foreign Affairs, 28 Jan. 2025

Al Drago/Reuters/File But liberal internationalism really got into gear in the 1990s. —Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Jan. 2025

In other cases, hollow internationalism led the United States to neglect deterrence entirely. —Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025

The Clinton administration faced a choice: Pull the plug on free trade and internationalism or push ahead without the safety-net side. —Jonathan Weisman, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

internationalism

noun

in·​ter·​na·​tion·​al·​ism ˌint-ər-ˈnash-nəl-ˌiz-əm 

-ˈnash-ən-ᵊl-

: a policy of cooperation among nations or an attitude favoring such a policy

internationalist

-əst 

noun or adjective