patriotism
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the feeling of love and pride you have for your country and the desire to support it.
the quality of being patriotic; devotion to and vigorous support for one's country. Uncountable in its general sense.
Simple“The soldiers were motivated by a deep sense of patriotism and duty.”
In context“Critics argued that the politician was using empty displays of patriotism to distract the public from failing domestic policies.”
SynonymsAntonymstreasondisloyalty - 02 C1 Advanced
a strong belief that your country is better or more important than others.
an intense form of national pride that may include a desire to compete with or dominate other nations. Often carries a more critical or political nuance than simple affection for a homeland.
Simple“In some cases, extreme patriotism can lead to tension between different countries.”
In context“The historian distinguished between civic patriotism, based on shared values, and the aggressive patriotism that often fuels border disputes.”
UsageOften used with adjectives like 'blind', 'aggressive', or 'unquestioning' when describing this more intense version.
SynonymsAntonymsinternationalismcosmopolitanism
“Iran’s leaders have appealed to the public’s sense of patriotism as they try to weather the country’s economic downturn.”
From patriot + -ism.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.