chauvinistic

American  

[shoh-vuh-nis-tik] / ˌʃoʊ vəˈnɪs tɪk /

adjective

1. aggressively and blindly devoted to a certain system of beliefs, especially patriotism or nationalism.

   The study of historical colonialism reveals a chauvinistic attitude toward other cultures and an implicit assumption that the West was the standard of civilized life for the rest of the world.

2. believing that one gender is superior to another.

   These four remarkable women composers, whose work is largely unknown, were ignored until now because of the chauvinistic attitudes that prevailed in their time.

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Other Word Forms

• chauvinistically adverb
• unchauvinistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of chauvinistic

First recorded in 1865–70; chauvinist ( def. ) + -ic ( def. )

Explanation

The adjective chauvinistic is useful for describing people who strongly believe in the superiority of their own gender or kind. A chauvinistic man might say women are too emotional to hold stressful jobs. If you believe that your gender, culture, country, or group is inherently better than another, you are chauvinistic, which is pronounced "sho-van-IS-tick." Chauvinistic is used often to describe sexism, but it also means extreme patriotism, or the belief that your country is better than others. In fact, the root is the French chauvinisme, "exaggerated, blind patriotism," which comes from Nicholas Chauvin, a famously nationalistic Napoleonic soldier.

Example Sentences

Chapo’s oozing hatred for Clinton, specifically, was pungent—and at times, arguably verged on chauvinistic.

From Slate • Apr. 9, 2025

Surely, Carlin himself, noted for his anti-abortion stance, would offer a chauvinistic nod of approval at the study’s choice of material.

From Salon • Jan. 16, 2024

“West, Side Story” will be the American picture to watch at Oscar time, for it restores something of the glory that was Hollywood — and Academy voters are a chauvinistic bunch.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2023

She broke boundaries that commentators this week said had redefined Italian notions of public morality and challenged chauvinistic beliefs about the role of women in society.

From New York Times • Jul. 8, 2021

To the unabashedly chauvinistic Time, the youthful Professor Lawrence’s career symbolized the emergence of American science as the lodestar of international research.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• biased
• bigoted
• dictatorial
• disdainful
• dogmatic
• fanatical
• fractious
• hateful
• indignant
• irritable
• racist
• xenophobic