patriotism

noun

pa·​tri·​ot·​ism ˈpā-trē-ə-ˌti-zəm How to pronounce patriotism (audio)
 chiefly British  ˈpa-
: love for or devotion to one's country
Although poles apart ideologically, they are both unashamed of their patriotism.Christopher Hemphill

Examples of patriotism in a Sentence

You may not agree with him politically, but no one can question his patriotism. They supported the war with a fierce patriotism.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Singing cowboys like Gene Autry and Western actor John Wayne became synonymous with patriotism, further forging the link between cowboys and American identity. Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025 Help restore, patriotism and love of country for the people of Concord. Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025 Thinking of patriotism this way ties it more closely to solidarity. Belinda Luscombe, Time, 13 Oct. 2025 Wilfried cited patriotism as his only motivation for voting. Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for patriotism

Word History

First Known Use

1716, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of patriotism was in 1716

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Cite this Entry

“Patriotism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriotism. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

patriotism

noun
pa·​tri·​ot·​ism ˈpā-trē-ə-ˌtiz-əm How to pronounce patriotism (audio)
: love of one's own country

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