Dictionary

manifest destiny en · NOUN

Etymology

Popularly attributed to newspaper editor John O'Sullivan (1813–1895). The phrase was first used primarily by Jackson Democrats in the 1840s to promote the annexation of much of what is now the Western United States.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) The political doctrine or belief held by the United States of America, particularly during its expansion, that the nation was obviously destined to expand toward the west.
2. (uncountable) The political doctrine or belief held by many citizens of the United States of America that their system is best, and the idea that all humans would like to become Americans.
   • Near-synonym: American exceptionalism
3. (uncountable) The belief that God supports the expansion of the United States of America throughout the entire North American continent except Mexico.

Forms

Hypernyms

expansionism

Relateds

benevolent assimilation · colonialism · neoimperialism · neocolonialism · imperialism

Synonyms

w:American exceptionalism

Translations (6)

vi vận mệnh hiển nhiên (cultural belief in the 19th-century United States that American settlers were destined to expand across North America) · de Manifest Destiny (cultural belief in the 19th-century United States that American settlers were destined to expand across North America) · pl Objawione Przeznaczenie (cultural belief in the 19th-century United States that American settlers were destined to expand across North America) · pt destino manifesto (cultural belief in the 19th-century United States that American settlers were destined to expand across North America) · cmn 昭昭天命 (cultural belief in the 19th-century United States that American settlers were destined to expand across North America) · fr destinée manifeste (cultural belief in the 19th-century United States that American settlers were destined to expand across North America)

wikipedia: John L. O'Sullivan · wikipedia: Jacksonian democracy

manifest destiny en · VERB

Etymology

Popularly attributed to newspaper editor John O'Sullivan (1813–1895). The phrase was first used primarily by Jackson Democrats in the 1840s to promote the annexation of much of what is now the Western United States.

Meanings

1. (informal) To exercise and realize manifest destiny; to enable the cultural and political expansion of the United States of America.
   • The Homestead Acts allowed millions of settlers to populate unclaimed land and manifest destiny out on the frontier.

Forms

wikipedia: John L. O'Sullivan · wikipedia: Jacksonian democracy