ENGLISH
REFERENCE

patriotic

adj. · n.
US //ˌpeɪtɹiˈɑtɪk// UK //pˌætɹɪˈɒtɪk// pa·tri·ot·ic
  1. 1 loving your country (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    showing love, support, and pride for your own country.

    expressing or inspired by devotion to one's nation.

    Example

    Many people felt patriotic and hung flags from their windows during the national holiday.

    Example

    The politician's speech appealed to patriotic sentiments, urging the citizens to unite for the common good of the nation during the economic crisis.
  2. 2 a themed stamp or token (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical

    a postage stamp or small coin that has a picture of a national symbol on it.

    a postage stamp, medal, or token, particularly from the American Civil War era, bearing a nationalistic design.

    Example

    The collector showed me a rare patriotic from the 1860s featuring an eagle.

    Example

    Numismatists often distinguish between official government issues and the various patriotics minted by private tradesmen during the currency shortages of the nineteenth century.

    Usage

    Usually refers to historical collectibles rather than modern currency.
Origin

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

Word family

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