Word for one nation taking the culture of another

Is there a word or terminology for when one nation takes the culture of another as its own, similar to the word "plagiarised" for when one takes the writings of another?


The taking of the cultural aspects of one society by a stronger society is called "cultural theft" or

cultural appropriation.

There are many examples: such as Chief Illiniwek at UIUC, the incorporation of blues in the origin rock and roll, or adoption of Buddhism in China. This is somewhat different from assimilation, which is a giving up of one's culture for another.

The reverse of cultural theft is "cultural imperialism," in which the stronger society imposes it own culture on the weaker society.


Acculturation is a term that conveys the concept of adopting a culture different from the original one:

  • the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group, esp. a dominant one.

The Free Dictionary

One example is: Westernisation:

  • assimilation of Western culture; the social process of becoming familiar with or converting to the customs and practices of Western civilization