jingoistic

American  

[jing-goh-is-tik] / ˌdʒɪŋ goʊˈɪs tɪk /

adjective

1. militantly nationalistic or chauvinistic.

   To be against the war in that jingoistic era was considered tantamount to treason.

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Other Word Forms

• jingoist
  noun
• jingoistically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of jingoistic

jingo(ism) ( def. ) + -istic ( def. )

Explanation

If your car sports a bumper sticker that reads, "my country, right or wrong," you might be accused of being jingoistic, or of taking your love for your country way too far. The line between patriotic and jingoistic can sometimes seem vague and confusing. Both adjectives describe a devotion to one's country, but jingoistic implies a fanatical allegiance that goes beyond pride, and often includes aggression toward other countries. The word jingo, "mindless, gung-ho patriot," arose from a popular 1878 song that praised Britain's warlike stance toward Russia at the time, and came into American use in the 1890s during the Spanish-American war.

Example Sentences

“The speaking of the Spanish language on Mexican soil can trigger the most jingoistic attitudes,” Nericcio told me, “so why not pave over five centuries of history and call it the Gulf of America?”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2025

In recent years, the party has worked to shed its image as a bastion of jingoistic “Little Englanders” and to attract a more diverse membership.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 3, 2023

“Not a jingoistic, blinkered sense of pride,” he said.

From New York Times • Mar. 25, 2023

John Cena plays the jingoistic Chris Smith, aka Peacemaker, who's been away in jail for four years.

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2022

The press is almost universally jingoistic, because it is financially interested in sensationalism.

From Proportional Representation Applied To Party Government by Ashworth, T. R. (Thomas Ramsden)

Related Words

• loyal
• nationalistic