flag-waving

[flag-wey-ving]

noun

1. an ostentatiously emotional display of patriotism or factionalism.

flag-waving

noun

1. informal

   1. an emotional appeal or display intended to arouse patriotic or nationalistic feeling

   2. ( as modifier )

      a flag-waving speech

Other Word Forms

• flag-waver noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of flag-waving¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

“The politics of grievance is the biggest threat we face,” he told a crowd of British flag-waving supporters.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He recalls being in New York after 9/11, unable to voice unease about the flag-waving and rush to war.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Violence is coming" and "you either fight back or die", the billionaire X owner Elon Musk told flag-waving protesters via video link.

Read more on BBC

For a party that has largely shunned flag-waving displays of national pride, this is a new departure.

Read more on BBC

Kid Rock and Hulk Hogan and all the indistinguishable flag-waving country singers no doubt had their uses, but no one imagined they had any connection to or understanding of 21st-century youth culture.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• loyalty 
• nationalism