chauvinism

noun chau·vin·ism \ ˈshō-və-ˌni-zəm \

|Updated on: 7 Jun 2018

Examples: chauvinism in a Sentence

Definition of chauvinism

1 : an attitude of superiority toward members of the opposite sex

male chauvinism

; also : behavior expressive of such an attitude

2 : undue partiality or attachment to a group or place to which one belongs or has belonged

regional chauvinism

3 : excessive or blind patriotism — compare jingoism

his fervent nationalism mutated into blatant chauvinism
—Elizabeth Fuller

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chauvinist

play \-və-nist\ noun or adjective

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chauvinistic

play \ˌshō-və-ˈnis-tik\ adjective

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chauvinistically

play \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See chauvinism defined for English-language learners

See chauvinism defined for kids

Examples of chauvinism in a Sentence

their ingrained chauvinism has blinded them to their country's faults

Recent Examples of chauvinism from the Web

Uber made that move as part of an effort under Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi, who was appointed last August, to help overcome its reputation for being permissive about chauvinism.

— greg bensinger, WSJ, "Uber’s New Rules on Arbitration for Sex-Related Claims Face First Test," 21 May 2018
Feelings about chauvinism might be more congested closer to home.

— sharon mizota, latimes.com, "Junghwa Hong's burqa portraits: Can an artist reveal the soul if she can't see the face?," 19 May 2018
The women’s movement, galvanized in large part by the unrelenting male chauvinism of 1968’s leaders, intervened in history, as did movements for racial and ethnic equality.

— alan wolfe, The New Republic, "A Most Violent Year," 18 May 2018
These forthright, independent women are trying to escape not just racial injustice but male chauvinism.

— christopher arnott, courant.com, "Melodrama 'Flyin' West' Opens Westport Playhouse Season," 16 May 2018
Better yet, the results suggest that centrism has more electoral appeal than both UMNO’s Malay chauvinism and the Islamic zealotry of PAS, an opposition party that declined to join Pakatan Harapan.

— The Economist, "Malaysia’s chance to clean up," 10 May 2018
Moreover, as the surge in women candidates also suggests, Mr Trump’s chauvinism may have stirred up Democratic voters across the board.

— The Economist, "LexingtonWomen could be the undoing of Donald Trump," 17 Feb. 2018
Photo: Elyxandro Cegarra/NurPhoto/Getty Images To his opponents, Mr. Macron’s notions of a protective Europe smack of old-fashion French chauvinism.

— stacy meichtry and william horobin, WSJ, "Macron’s Lonely Road: Saving Globalism From Itself," 20 Apr. 2018
Kimmel had trouble booking women for the show (a joyous celebration of chauvinism).

— megan garber, The Atlantic, "Forgiving Jimmy Kimmel," 2 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chauvinism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chauvinism

French chauvinisme, from Nicolas Chauvin, character noted for his excessive patriotism and devotion to Napoleon in Théodore and Hippolyte Cogniard's play La Cocarde tricolore (1831)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1851

in the meaning defined at sense 3

See Words from the same year

chauvinism Synonyms

CHAUVINISM Defined for English Language Learners

chauvinism

noun

Definition of chauvinism for English Language Learners

: an attitude that the members of your own sex are always better than those of the opposite sex
: the belief that your country, race, etc., is better than any other