nationalist

[nash-uh-nl-ist, nash-nuh-list]

noun

1. a person devoted to nationalism.

2. (initial capital letter),  a member of a political group advocating or fighting for national independence, a strong national government, etc.

adjective

1. Also nationalistic. of, relating to, or promoting nationalism.

   the beginnings of a nationalist movement.

2. (initial capital letter),  of, relating to, or noting a political group advocating or fighting for national independence, a strong national government, etc.

Other Word Forms

• nationalistically adverb
• antinationalist noun
• antinationalistic adjective
• antinationalistically adverb
• hypernationalistic adjective
• nonnationalistic adjective
• nonnationalistically adverb
• pronationalist adjective
• pronationalistic adjective
• quasi-nationalistic adjective
• seminationalistic adjective
• unnationalistic adjective
• unnationalistically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of nationalist¹

First recorded in 1705–15; national + -ist

Example Sentences

"I don't think we will see a nationalist or unionist majority any time in the foreseeable future in the Assembly," said David McCann of Ulster University.

Read more on BBC

Belgium has been hit by several strikes since Flemish nationalist Bart de Wever came to office last February.

Read more on BBC

The current dispute between China and Taiwan dates to a civil war between the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek, who retreated to the island, and Mao Zedong's communist fighters.

Read more on Barron's

Hungary's nationalist leader Orban has been at loggerheads with Brussels since his return to power in 2010 over what the EU says is his undermining of democratic institutions and divisive foreign policy stance.

Read more on Barron's

Though the recurrent phrase “citizen of the United States” had strong nationalist overtones, perhaps the framers did not mean to codify a one-size-fits-all approach.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• superpatriot