irredentism
noun
ir·re·den·tism
ˌir-i-ˈden-ˌti-zəm 
: a political principle or policy directed toward the incorporation of irredentas within the boundaries of their historically or ethnically related political unit
Examples of irredentism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Struggling powers are turning to militarization and irredentism to stave off decline.
—
Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025
This irredentism, as Russian liberals have begun to see, has resulted in unmitigated catastrophe.
—Casey Michel, The New Republic, 2 Mar. 2023
The not-unreasonable perception that post-Soviet Russia was snookered by the West into coughing up too much of the USSR's holdings played a major role in the rise of Putin, whose philosophy includes a strong element of irredentism, the desire to recover national territory.
—David Faris, The Week, 19 Oct. 2021
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Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025
This irredentism, as Russian liberals have begun to see, has resulted in unmitigated catastrophe.
—Casey Michel, The New Republic, 2 Mar. 2023
The not-unreasonable perception that post-Soviet Russia was snookered by the West into coughing up too much of the USSR's holdings played a major role in the rise of Putin, whose philosophy includes a strong element of irredentism, the desire to recover national territory.
—David Faris, The Week, 19 Oct. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Irredentism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irredentism. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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