nationalism

American  

[nash-uh-nl-iz-uhm, nash-nuh-liz-] / ˈnæʃ ə nlˌɪz əm, ˈnæʃ nəˌlɪz- /

noun

1. spirit or aspirations common to the whole of a nation.

   He describes how the intense and unconquerable nationalism of India’s hundreds of millions contributed to the decline of the British empire.

2. devotion and loyalty to one's own country; patriotism.

   The promotion of a healthy nationalism is part of the responsibility of the leaders of a newly independent, diverse nation.

3. excessive patriotism; chauvinism.

   This kind of nationalism, intolerance, or imperialism seems to occur even in the best democracies.

4. the desire for national advancement or political independence.

   A surge in Quebec nationalism led to the formation of the Parti Québécois, which was committed to a political route to Quebec independence.

5. the policy or doctrine of asserting the interests of one's own nation viewed as separate from the interests of other nations or of the international community.

   There’s a struggle between integration and global values on the one hand, and uncompromising nationalism on the other.

6. an idiom or trait peculiar to a nation.

7. a movement, as in the arts, based upon the folk idioms, history, aspirations, etc., of a nation.

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nationalism British  

/ ˈnæʃənəˌlɪzəm, ˈnæʃnə- /

noun

1. a sentiment based on common cultural characteristics that binds a population and often produces a policy of national independence or separatism

2. loyalty or devotion to one's country; patriotism

3. exaggerated, passionate, or fanatical devotion to a national community See also chauvinism

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nationalism Cultural  

1. The strong belief that the interests of a particular nation-state are of primary importance. Also, the belief that a people who share a common language, history, and culture should constitute an independent nation, free of foreign domination.

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Nationalism is opposed to colonialism and imperialism.

Other Word Forms

• antinationalism
  noun
• nationalist
  noun
• nonnationalism
  noun
• pronationalism
  noun
• seminationalism
  noun
• nationalistic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of nationalism

First recorded in 1830–40; national ( def. ) + -ism ( def. )

Explanation

Nationalism is the belief that your own country is better than all others. Sometimes nationalism makes people not want to work with other countries to solve shared problems. It is important not to confuse nationalism with patriotism. Patriotism is a healthy pride in your country that brings about feelings of loyalty and a desire to help other citizens. Nationalism is the belief that your country is superior, without question or doubt. In some cases, nationalism can inspire people to break free of a foreign oppressor, as in the American Revolution, but nationalism can also lead a country to cut itself off from the rest of the world.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nationalism

Kiai Muchtar Mu'thi combines Islamic teachings with a strong emphasis on Indonesian nationalism, and the school he owns in East Java is part of a wider complex that has thousands of loyal followers.

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026

“We are also seeing resource nationalism and de-globalization. Copper is one of the most visible examples of this strategic stockpiling theme, but it applies to all critical minerals,” Wolf told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 13, 2026

But the most important theme in the PCA report isn’t a direct repudiation of Christian nationalism but an affirmation of religious liberty.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

I asked a few experts in the history of nationalism to pronounce on America’s relative longevity, and discovered that the answer to this question is surprisingly complicated.

From Slate ● Jul. 4, 2026

Jordan Ngubane, A. P. Mda, and William Nkomo all spoke, and emphasized the emerging spirit of African nationalism.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• fanaticism
• jingoism