Synonyms

patriotic

American

[pey-tree-ot-ik, pa-] / ˌpeɪ triˈɒt ɪk, ˌpæ- /

adjective

of, like, suitable for, or characteristic of a patriot.
expressing or inspired by patriotism.

a patriotic ode.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of patriotic

1645–55; < Late Latin patriōticus < Greek patriōtikós. See patriot, -ic

Explanation

Respect for the country's flag, a desire to see your nation succeed, and a deep, abiding love of your country are all patriotic expressions, but being patriotic doesn’t mean you think your country’s perfect — just that you love it. The Greek word patēr, which means father, was the basis for the word patris, or native land, and so patriotic came to mean "a love of country." In the 18th century, the word was formed from the word patriot by adding the suffix -ic, which turns a noun into an adjective. An example of a patriotic comment would be this one, by President Bill Clinton: "There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America."

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Vocabulary lists containing patriotic

Star-Spangled Vocabulary: Patriotic Words

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Not Your Father's Word List: Pater, Patr

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Nothing But the Truth

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She is half Tunisian and half English and said London was a "very patriotic city".

From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026

The final image in the patriotic collection features ZwCl 0024+1652, a distant galaxy cluster that has helped astronomers study dark matter.

From Science Daily • Jul. 4, 2026

The thematically arranged presentation is at its strongest in the most overtly patriotic works.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 3, 2026

I, of course, stressed the patriotic nature of my efforts and how all my friends would benefit from my labor.

From Salon • Jul. 3, 2026

I stiffened at the word patriotic, still on edge from that message left on my jable.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023