English Reference

Word

nationalist

Phoneticsna·tion·al·ist

US/ˈnæʃənəɫəst/

UK/nˈæʃənəlˌɪst/

Definitions

01supporter of nationalism

B2

n. someone who loves their country very much and believes it should be independent or more powerful than others.

n. an individual who advocates for the political independence of a particular nation or promotes the interests of one's own nation above others.

“The nationalist spoke about the importance of protecting the country's unique culture and language.”

“The prominent nationalist argued that the country should withdraw from international treaties to regain full control over its domestic policies.”

Usage

Often carries a negative connotation in modern political discourse when associated with exclusion or superiority.

Synonyms

Antonyms

globalistinternationalist

02relating to nationalism

B2

adj. describing ideas, movements, or feelings that focus on national pride and independence.

adj. relating to or characteristic of nationalism; describing political movements seeking autonomy or asserting national identity.

“The party gained many votes by using nationalist slogans during the election.”

“The rise of nationalist sentiment across the region has complicated efforts to establish a unified economic trade zone.”

Antonyms

03South African history

C2

n. a member of the National Party in South Africa during the 1900s.

n. a member or supporter of the National Party in South Africa, specifically during the era of apartheid.

“In history class, we learned about the policies introduced by the nationalists in 1948.”

“The political landscape of mid-century South Africa was dominated by the Nationalists, who implemented the legal framework for racial segregation.”

Technical

Teaching tip

This sense is highly specific to South African historical contexts; learners should use the general sense unless discussing 20th-century history.

Real-World Examples

“Far-right parties are polling strongly in all of them, and Europe’s centre fears a continent-wide nationalist wave.”
The Guardian · 7 Sept 2026
“What the parties do tend to share, however, is an anti-immigration platform and strong nationalist messaging.”
BBC News · 7 Sept 2026
“Zohran Mamdani says he opposes a right-wing Hindu nationalist event scheduled for next week at Madison Square Garden.”
Al Jazeera · 26 Aug 2026

Etymology

From national + -ist.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference