nationalism

noun

na·​tion·​al·​ism ˈna-sh(ə-)nə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce nationalism (audio)
1
: loyalty and devotion to a nation
especially : a sense of national consciousness (see consciousness sense 1c) exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups
Intense nationalism was one of the causes of the war.
2
: a nationalist movement or government
opposing nationalisms

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between nationalism and patriotism?

Nationalism and patriotism are similar insofar as both words emphasize strong feelings for one’s country. However, the two words are not synonymous. Nationalism, while it refers to loyalty and devotion to a nation, tends to imply the placing of that nation above others, a tendency that is not necessarily implicit in patriotism.

Is nationalism a proper noun?

Proper noun is defined as "a noun that designates a particular being or thing, does not take a limiting modifier, and is usually capitalized in English." Nationalism does not meet these criteria, and therefore is not a proper noun.

What is difference between nationalism and jingoism?

Nationalism and jingoism are closely related, as both words refer to an exaltation of one’s own nation and feelings of cultural superiority. However, jingoism, unlike nationalism, always implies military aggressiveness.

Examples of nationalism in a Sentence

The war was caused by nationalism and greed. Nazism's almost epic nationalism appealed to downtrodden Germans still suffering the humiliation of being defeated in World War I.
Recent Examples on the Web Buckley and other researchers have completed several studies on the correlation between Christian nationalism and political violence. Will Carless, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 But the problem for Apple has been ongoing for a year as China’s economy slows down and trade tensions and nationalism heat up. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 All these countries have recently experienced the combination of three movements: religious conservatism, nationalism and populism. Religion and nationalism: Old enemies, new allies In both Christian and Muslim history, nationalism emerged in reaction to the religious establishment. Ahmet T. Kuru, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2024 Croatia as an independent state first existed under the Ustaše, the local fascist party installed as a puppet regime in 1941 by the Nazis, and so the story of Croatian nationalism is inextricably entwined with its far-right past. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024 This public embrace of nationalism marks a massive shift in Silicon Valley, where values have long been out of step with the rest of the country, Founders Fund partner Trae Stephens said. Elizabeth Dwoskin, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024 But during the next decade, Prabowo started to build a political career promoting a muscular brand of nationalism that promised to free Indonesia from foreign exploitation. Ben Bland, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2024 An overwhelming majority of its justices come from an entrenched elite—male, Hindu, and occupying the upper echelons of India’s caste system—a demographic that has traditionally been the bedrock of Hindu nationalism. Vaibhav Vats, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2024 Since then, countless essays, articles, and books have tried to explain the growing threats to the liberal world order posed by populism, authoritarianism, fundamentalism, and nationalism. Helena Rosenblatt, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nationalism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nationalism was in 1798

Dictionary Entries Near nationalism

Cite this Entry

“Nationalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalism. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nationalism

noun
na·​tion·​al·​ism ˈnash-nəl-ˌiz-əm How to pronounce nationalism (audio)
-ən-ᵊl-
: loyalty and devotion to a nation especially as expressed in a glorifying of one nation above all others and a stressing of the promotion of its culture and interests

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