ENGLISH
REFERENCE

patriotic

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌpeɪtɹiˈɑtɪk// UK //pˌætɹɪˈɒtɪk// pa·tri·ot·ic

adj. having or showing a lot of love and support for your own country. You feel proud of where you come from and want to help your nation.

adj. expressing or inspired by devotion to and vigorous support for one's country. Often modified by degree adverbs like 'deeply' or 'fiercely'.


SIMPLE

He felt very patriotic when he saw the national flag.

CONTEXTUAL

The crowd sang the national anthem with patriotic pride during the opening ceremony of the games.

COMPLEX

While some view the display of national symbols as purely patriotic, others argue that such gestures can sometimes mask deeper political divisions within the population.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From French patriotique, from Late Latin patriōticus, from Ancient Greek πατριωτικός (patriōtikós), from πατριώτης (patriṓtēs), equivalent to patriot + -ic.

Usage

Typically precedes the noun it modifies or follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'feel'.

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