# patriotic

/ˌpeɪtɹiˈɑtɪk/ (US) · /pˌætɹɪˈɒtɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/patriotic
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. loving your country

adjective · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: expressing or inspired by devotion to one's nation.

- Many people felt patriotic and hung flags from their windows during the national holiday.
- 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. a themed stamp or token

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

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

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

## Examples

- He felt very patriotic when he saw the national flag.
- The crowd sang the national anthem with patriotic pride during the opening ceremony of the games.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.