decolonization (n.)

1853年，美国英语中的政治意义上，“将（一个地方）从殖民地地位中移除”，源自 de- + colonization。早期作为医学术语（源自 colon（n.2））。

The great occupation of the nations of western Europe, from the beginning of the fifteenth century to near the close of the eighteenth century, was colonization and the establishment of empire on the American continent. The year 1775 witnessed the opening of the first act in the great drama of the decolonization of this continent, the end of which is not yet. [Speech of Hon. W.H. Seward of New York in the Senate, February 8, 1853, in Appendix to the Congressional Globe, 2nd Session, 32nd Congress]

从15世纪初到18世纪末，西欧国家的主要活动是在美洲大陆上进行殖民和建立帝国。1775年见证了这个大陆去殖民化的第一幕，其结束尚未到来。[纽约州参议员 W.H. Seward 先生于1853年2月8日在参议院发表的演讲，载于第32届国会第2次会议的附录中]