globalisation

IPA/ɡlˌəʊbəlaɪzˈeɪʃən/
IPA/ɡlˌoʊbələzˈeɪʃən/

globalisation — noun

1. the process by which economies, businesses, and trade become connected across na

1.nounB2
Definition

the process by which economies, businesses, and trade become connected across national borders, so that goods, services, and capital move more freely between countries

Example

Tomás works for a car company that expanded across three continents because of globalisation.

pattern: because of globalisation

Critics of globalisation argue that it often harms small family-run shops in poorer countries.

common subject: critics of globalisation + argue that-clause

Common collocations
  • globalisation of trade
  • globalisation of markets
  • globalisation of supply chains
  • economic globalisation
  • corporate globalisation
  • the pace of globalisation
  • the rise of globalisation
Synonyms
  • internationalisation

    focuses on companies operating across borders, without the same implication of world-wide integration

  • market integration

    more technical and narrower in scope, used mainly in economics

  • economic integration

    emphasises the merging of separate national economies into larger units

Antonyms
  • protectionism

    the policy of shielding domestic industries from foreign competition, the opposite of free trade

  • isolationism

    a political retreat from international engagement and alliances

Grammar Patterns

globalisation of + [domain/industry]

the globalisation of [noun phrase]

Usage Note

Globalisation is an uncountable noun and is not used in the plural. The spelling varies by region: globalisation (British English) and globalization (American English) refer to the same concept. This sense typically appears with of to specify the domain, e.g. the globalisation of manufacturing / finance / supply chains.

Common Mistakes

Globalisations are happening faster now.
Globalisation is happening faster now.
The noun is uncountable and has no plural form.
The globalisation make prices lower.
Globalisation makes prices lower.
Globalisation is singular and requires a singular verb.

2. a process in which cultural products, lifestyles, and social values around the w

2.nounB2
Definition

a process in which cultural products, lifestyles, and social values around the world become increasingly alike, often because of international media, travel, and the spread of multinational brands

Example

Jisoo noticed globalisation when she saw the same fashion shops in Seoul and Paris.

collocation: noticed globalisation

Some communities fear that globalisation is slowly replacing their traditional festivals with commercial events.

subject: communities + verb pattern: fear that + clause

Common collocations
  • cultural globalisation
  • globalisation of culture
  • globalisation of the media
  • the globalisation of food
  • the effects of globalisation on local traditions
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • cultural preservation

    the effort to protect and maintain local traditions and languages

  • localisation

    adapting products and services to fit a particular local market or culture

Grammar Patterns

globalisation of + [cultural domain]

effects / impact of globalisation

Usage Note

This sense differs from sense 1 (WORLD TRADE) by focusing on social and cultural change rather than on economic activity. The two senses often overlap in real-world discussion; a sentence about fast-food chains spreading worldwide can belong to either sense depending on whether the emphasis is on commerce or on cultural habits.

Common Mistakes

Globalisation is making the world more same.
Globalisation is making the world more similar.
Same is not a comparative adjective; use similar or alike.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Globalisation, internationalisation, globalism, and free trade are related but not interchangeable. Globalisation (sense 1) refers to the broad process of economic and cultural connection across borders — it is the most inclusive term. Internationalisation is narrower: it describes companies or organisations expanding their operations into multiple countries without necessarily implying the deep integration of markets that globalisation suggests. Globalism is an ideology or political stance that advocates for global cooperation and open borders; it is a belief system, not a description of the process itself. Free trade is narrower still — it refers specifically to the removal of tariffs and barriers on imported and exported goods, which is one aspect of globalisation but not the whole picture. For example, a government can support free trade (reducing import taxes) while resisting other forms of globalisation, such as the spread of foreign media influence.

internationalisation ↗globalism ↗free trade ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • the rise of globalisation
  • the effects of globalisation
  • the pace of globalisation
  • the benefits of globalisation
  • the drawbacks of globalisation

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Globalisation is formed from the adjective global (meaning 'relating to the whole world', from Latin globus 'sphere' or 'ball') and the suffix -isation (which turns verbs into nouns of process or result). The term was first used in the 1930s but became widespread in academic, business, and political writing from the 1980s onwards as international trade and cross-border communication expanded rapidly.