antiforeignism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal, Academic, Political
Quick answer
What does “antiforeignism” mean?
The policy or belief in opposition to foreign influence, people, or customs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The policy or belief in opposition to foreign influence, people, or customs.
An ideology characterized by hostility toward foreign entities, often manifesting as political policy, social prejudice, or cultural protectionism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in American political discourse due to historical nativist movements; in UK contexts, often used historically or in academic analysis rather than contemporary politics.
Connotations
Strongly negative; implies xenophobia, prejudice, and often an irrational or extreme position.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency word; primarily encountered in specialized academic texts, historical analyses, or political theory.
Grammar
How to Use “antiforeignism” in a Sentence
antiforeignism among [GROUP]antiforeignism toward [COUNTRY/PEOPLE]antiforeignism rooted in [FEAR/BELIEF]campaign of antiforeignismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “antiforeignism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The party's rhetoric began to antiforeignise the debate on immigration.
- They accused the government of antiforeignising economic policy.
American English
- The movement sought to antiforeignize the country's trade agreements.
- Politicians sometimes antiforeignize complex economic issues for electoral gain.
adverb
British English
- He argued antiforeignistically for closed borders.
- The legislation was drafted antiforeignistically.
American English
- The speaker presented his case antiforeignistically.
- They reacted antiforeignistically to the new treaty.
adjective
British English
- The antiforeignist faction within the party gained influence.
- They published an antiforeignist manifesto.
American English
- Antiforeignist policies often backfire economically.
- The group's antiforeignist agenda was clear.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; may appear in analysis of trade barriers or protectionist policies fueled by nationalistic sentiment.
Academic
Primary context; used in political science, history, and sociology to describe ideological movements.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in political discourse analysis and historical studies of nationalism.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “antiforeignism”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “antiforeignism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “antiforeignism”
- Misspelling as 'antiforeignisim' or 'antiforignism'. Using it as a synonym for general 'racism' (it is specifically about foreignness, not race per se).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While they can overlap, antiforeignism specifically targets people or influences perceived as 'foreign' based on nationality or culture, whereas racism is based on perceived racial differences. A person can be antiforeignist without being explicitly racist, and vice versa.
It is possible but uncommon. The '-ism' suffix typically indicates an ideology or systematic practice. Words like 'xenophobia' are more frequently used for personal prejudice, while 'antiforeignism' often describes a political or social doctrine.
Protectionism is primarily an economic policy of protecting domestic industries from foreign competition. Antiforeignism is a broader ideological opposition to foreign influence, which can include cultural, social, and political dimensions, and may motivate protectionist policies.
No, it is a very low-frequency, specialized term. More common synonyms in general discourse are 'xenophobia' or 'nativism'.
The policy or belief in opposition to foreign influence, people, or customs.
Antiforeignism is usually formal, academic, political in register.
Antiforeignism: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæntɪˈfɒrɪnɪzəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæntiˈfɔːrɪnɪzəm/ˌæntaɪˈfɔːrɪnɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The tide of antiforeignism”
- “To be swept up by antiforeignism”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'anti-foreign-ism': breaking it down clarifies its meaning - opposition (anti) to what is foreign.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATION IS A FORTRESS (antiforeignism seeks to build walls against external influence)
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'antiforeignism' MOST likely to be used?