patriotism
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- antipatriotism noun
- hyperpatriotism noun
- overpatriotism noun
- propatriotism noun
Etymology
Origin of patriotism
Explanation
If you're full of patriotism, you're full of love for your country. Patriotism is associated with serving your country and waving the flag. There are, actually, a lot of ways to demonstrate your patriotism. Waving the flag is an obvious way, but anything that celebrates your country or makes it stronger is a great display of patriotism. Whenever a country is at war, people are more vocal about their patriotism, playing patriotic songs and making speeches full of national pride. Showing patriotism is so important that politicians will argue with each other about who really has more patriotism.
Vocabulary lists containing patriotism
Memorial Day Words
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Not Your Father's Word List: Pater, Patr
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Human Geography - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Leaving patriotism and morality aside, I would say, “Gee, I don’t trust that.”
From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026
In the six weeks since the tariff decision, he has repeatedly disparaged the patriotism and loyalty of the justices who ruled against him.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026
Allu Arjun hailed its "patriotism with swag", Preity Zinta called it "mind-blowing", and veteran Anupam Kher described it as "outstanding" - "a film that makes you feel deeply proud of your country".
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
The 59-year-old rode to election victory last month on a wave of patriotism stemming from the border conflict with Cambodia that killed scores on both sides last year and displaced more than one million people.
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026
During the war, workers throughout the nation, no matter how dissatisfied they had become, demonstrated their patriotism by staying on the job and working harder than ever.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.