ENGLISH
REFERENCE

patriot

n.
US //ˈpeɪtɹiət// UK //pˈætɹɪət// pa·tri·ot
  1. 1 loyal citizen (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    someone who loves their country and feels very loyal to it.

    a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.

    Example

    He considered himself a true patriot and always flew the national flag in his garden.

    Example

    The politician's speech appealed to the audience's sense of duty, calling on every patriot to contribute to the national recovery effort.

  2. 2 American Revolution (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    a person who supported American independence from Britain in the 1700s.

    a colonist who supported the American Revolution against British rule during the late 18th century.

    Example

    The patriots fought several difficult battles before winning independence from the British.

    Example

    Historical accounts often contrast the motivations of the New England patriots with those of the loyalists who remained faithful to the Crown.

Show 1 more senseShow fewer
  1. 3 missile system (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    a type of powerful missile used to shoot down planes or other missiles.

    a sophisticated surface-to-air missile system designed for long-range interception of aircraft and tactical ballistic missiles.

    Example

    The military deployed a patriot battery to protect the city from air attacks.

    Example

    The deployment of the Patriot missile defense system provided a significant strategic advantage during the initial stages of the conflict.

    Usage

    Often capitalized as 'Patriot' when referring to the specific system.

Origin

From Middle French patriote, from Late Latin patriōta (“fellow countryman”) from the Ancient Greek πατριώτης (patriṓtēs, “of the same country”), from πατρίς (patrís, “father land", "country”), from πατήρ (patḗr, “father”).

Word family

© 2026 English Reference