Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for nationalism

nationalism

[ nash-uh-nl-iz-uhm, nash-nuh-liz- ]

noun

  1. spirit or aspirations common to the whole of a nation:

    He describes how the intense and unconquerable nationalism of India’s hundreds of millions contributed to the decline of the British empire.

  2. devotion and loyalty to one's own country; patriotism:

    The promotion of a healthy nationalism is part of the responsibility of the leaders of a newly independent, diverse nation.

  3. excessive patriotism; chauvinism:

    This kind of nationalism, intolerance, or imperialism seems to occur even in the best democracies.

  4. the desire for national advancement or political independence:

    A surge in Quebec nationalism led to the formation of the Parti Québécois, which was committed to a political route to Quebec independence.

  5. the policy or doctrine of asserting the interests of one's own nation viewed as separate from the interests of other nations or of the international community: economic nationalism ( def ).

    There’s a struggle between integration and global values on the one hand, and uncompromising nationalism on the other.

  6. an idiom or trait peculiar to a nation.
  7. a movement, as in the arts, based upon the folk idioms, history, aspirations, etc., of a nation.


nationalism

/ ˈnæʃənəˌlɪzəm; ˈnæʃnə- /

noun

  1. a sentiment based on common cultural characteristics that binds a population and often produces a policy of national independence or separatism
  2. loyalty or devotion to one's country; patriotism
  3. exaggerated, passionate, or fanatical devotion to a national community See also chauvinism


nationalism

  1. The strong belief that the interests of a particular nation-state are of primary importance. Also, the belief that a people who share a common language, history, and culture should constitute an independent nation, free of foreign domination.


Discover More

Notes

Nationalism is opposed to colonialism and imperialism .

Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˌnationalˈistic, adjective
  • ˈnationalist, nounadjective

Discover More

Other Words From

  • an·ti·na·tion·al·ism noun
  • non·na·tion·al·ism noun
  • pro·na·tion·al·ism noun
  • sem·i·na·tion·al·ism noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of nationalism1

First recorded in 1830–40; national ( def ) + -ism ( def )

Discover More

Example Sentences

It was speedy—Israel acted like many other Western countries, in what is known as a trend of vaccination nationalism.

The group’s purpose is to “educate the American people” about issues including “economic nationalism,” “social policy and respect for traditional American values” and “America First foreign policy,” among other issues, according to the filing.

In general it is responsible for the spirit of nationalism which so often sets the world aflame.

Presently, as many nations experience a resurgence of nationalism and exclusionary policies of walls and borders, the pandemic is a harsh reminder of the lived reality of our transnational interconnectedness.

A lot of the populism, nationalism in Western democracies is very much a result of those refugees flooding into those countries and overpowering the systems in those countries.

Individual governments took the lead, bankrolling most of the process in the name of competition and nationalism.

His policies helped engender the rise of an intolerant and severe nationalism that conflates piety with patriotism.

Btw, I'm not a fan of nationalism but happy Swiss day to you anyway.

MZ and her siblings were raised nothing, really, except to be skeptical about nationalism and organized religion.

Even in the smallest of Indian locales, the divisions of geography and nationalism are played out on a micro scale.

Mitchel and the great confessors of Irish nationalism would have laughed it to scorn.

Nationalism was taught in schools, emphasized by newspapers, preached and mocked and sung into men.

Nationalism more often represents the interests of the few rather than the many.

Nationalism has had a long trial with comparative freedom, and one of its grand finales is the present European war.

As long as such an extreme and pathological form of nationalism exists no permanent peace is probable, if not impossible.

Advertisement

Related Words

Word of the Day

petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


national insurancenationalist