# decolonization

> English word · Noun · IPA /diːˌkɒl.ə.naɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ · frequency rank #57,328

## Definitions
1. The freeing of a colony etc from dependent status by granting it independence.
2. The reverse of colonization, i.e. granting back autonomy to a group.
3. The elimination of a colony of pathogens from the body of a patient, especially antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

## Etymology
From de- + colonization.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/decolonization