Word
patriot
Phoneticspa·tri·ot, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpeɪtɹiət/
UK/pˈætɹɪət/
Definitions
01loyal citizen
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. someone who loves their country and feels very loyal to it.
n. a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.
“He considered himself a true patriot and always flew the national flag in his garden.”
“The politician's speech appealed to the audience's sense of duty, calling on every patriot to contribute to the national recovery effort.”
Synonyms
02American Revolution
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun American English
n. a person who supported American independence from Britain in the 1700s.
n. a colonist who supported the American Revolution against British rule during the late 18th century.
“The patriots fought several difficult battles before winning independence from the British.”
“Historical accounts often contrast the motivations of the New England patriots with those of the loyalists who remained faithful to the Crown.”
Synonyms
03missile system
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science Technical
n. a type of powerful missile used to shoot down planes or other missiles.
n. a sophisticated surface-to-air missile system designed for long-range interception of aircraft and tactical ballistic missiles.
“The military deployed a patriot battery to protect the city from air attacks.”
“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.
Real-World Examples
“And now we both know our name.”
The 1780 battle was a pivotal defeat for the patriots.” Etymology
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
The word in film
The Patriot · 2000 · Action
- Directed by:
- Roland Emmerich
- Starring:
- Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Tom Wilkinson
Roland Emmerich directs this historical action film starring Mel Gibson as a peaceful farmer who joins the American Revolution. The story follows his transformation into a soldier fighting for independence against the British army in the 1700s.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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