chauvinism
[ shoh-vuh-niz-uhm ]
/ ˈʃoʊ vəˌnɪz əm /
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noun
zealous and aggressive patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory.
biased devotion to any group, attitude, or cause: religious chauvinism.
the denigration, disparagement, and patronization of a particular gender based on the belief that one gender is inferior to another and thus deserving of less than equal treatment or benefit.Compare male chauvinism.
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Origin of chauvinism
First recorded in 1865–70; from French chauvinisme, equivalent to chauvin “jingo” (named after N. Chauvin, a soldier in Napoleon's army noted for loud-mouthed patriotism) + -isme -ism
OTHER WORDS FROM chauvinism
chau·vin·ist, nounWords nearby chauvinism
Chaussier's areola, Chausson, chaussure, Chautauqua, Chautemps, chauvinism, chauvinist, chauvinistic, chav, Chavannes, chavette
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for chauvinism
British Dictionary definitions for chauvinism
chauvinism
/ (ˈʃəʊvɪˌnɪzəm) /
noun
aggressive or fanatical patriotism; jingoism
enthusiastic devotion to a cause
smug irrational belief in the superiority of one's own race, party, sex, etcmale chauvinism
Derived forms of chauvinism
chauvinist, nounchauvinistic, adjectivechauvinistically, adverbWord Origin for chauvinism
C19: from French chauvinisme, after Nicolas Chauvin, legendary French soldier under Napoleon, noted for his vociferous and unthinking patriotism
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Cultural definitions for chauvinism
chauvinism
Exaggerated belief in the supremacy of one's nation, class, caste, or group. Chauvinism usually involves xenophobia.
notes for chauvinism
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.