patriotism
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
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.
At the same time, and even more surprisingly, “Hamilton” enlists the musical language of hip-hop in the service of a patriotism that is at bottom as old-fashioned as skyrockets on the Fourth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
"I do not want to entrust national pride to the wrong people," said Klopp, who prefers the term "positive patriotism" to "national pride", which he fears can be misunderstood.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Last year in the spirit of patriotism, my favorite Toronto coffee shop taped over the menu listing for its Americano to re-dub it a Canadiano.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
The patriotism of those years seemed earnest, even when it occasionally had the bearing of Sam Eagle: chest out, chin up, deeply concerned with the dignity of the republic.
From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2026
Once it was simple to praise these men and their heroic achievements in painting a picture of American pride and patriotism.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
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.
