Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A policy of imperialistic expansion defended as necessary or benevolent.
- noun The 19th-century doctrine that the United States had the right and duty to expand throughout the North American continent.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun US The
political doctrine orbelief held by theUnited States of America , particularly during its expansion, that the nation was destined to expand toward the west. - noun US The
political doctrine orbelief held by many citizens of theUnited States of America that their system isbest , and the idea that all humans would like to become Americans. - noun The belief that
God supports the expansion of the United States of America throughout the entire North American continent exceptMexico .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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.
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Examples
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sionnach commented on the word manifest destiny
A policy of imperialism rationalized as inevitable (as if granted by God).
but unloved by wordies, apparently.
July 9, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word manifest destiny
Not anymore. *loves on it*
July 9, 2008