jingoism

noun

jin·go·ism | \ ˈjiŋ-(ˌ)gō-ˌi-zəm

Definition of jingoism

: extreme chauvinism or nationalism marked especially by a belligerent foreign policy

Other Words from jingoism Synonyms Jingoism Got Its Start in the 19th Century Example Sentences Learn More About jingoism

Other Words from jingoism

jingoist \ ˈjiŋ-(ˌ)gō-ist

\ noun or adjective

jingoistic \ ˌjiŋ-gō-ˈi-stik

\ adjective

jingoistically \ ˌjiŋ-gō-ˈi-sti-k(ə-)lē

\ adverb

Jingoism Got Its Start in the 19th Century

Jingoism originated during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, when many British citizens were hostile toward Russia and felt Britain should intervene in the conflict. Supporters of the cause expressed their sentiments in a music-hall ditty with this refrain:

We don't want to fight, yet by jingo if we do,

We've got the ships, we've got the men,

We've got the money, too!

Someone holding the attitude implied in the song became known as a jingo or jingoist, and the attitude itself was dubbed jingoism. The jingo in the tune is probably a euphemism for Jesus.

Examples of jingoism in a Sentence

When the war began many people were caught up in a wave of jingoism. his loudmouthed jingoism will not win us any foreign allies

Recent Examples on the Web Erdogan’s latest round of jingoism has raised alarm bells in Washington because the YPG—a military force composed mainly of Syrian Kurds—played a pivotal role in helping the U.S. military to defeat ISIS. — Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 8 June 2022 Tony Scott’s film was a highly successful, undeniably compelling advertisement for brash 1980s jingoism. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 May 2022 Some hard-line types, including white supremacists, were drawn to their bellicosity and jingoism; others gravitated to them less because of any ideological affinity than because they were inspired by the groups’ discipline and bravery. — Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 2 May 2022 Loznitsa’s unflinching focus could stem from his understanding of how wartime imagery can be manipulated to promote jingoism and hide atrocity. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2022 Is your sense that, within Russia, even among people who may not like Putin, there is a certain amount of jingoism about the Ukrainian question? — Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2022 Patriotism — the genuine kind, not jingoism or boobery. — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 7 Feb. 2022 There was more than simple jingoism at play in that reaction. — New York Times, 14 Jan. 2022 The idea was to wrap independently popular industrial policy in the language of great power rivalry—or, in other words, to offer Republicans some jingoism in exchange for their support for green-ish manufacturing. — Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 10 June 2021 See More

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