jingoism

1 of 3

noun (1)

jin·​go·​ism ˈjiŋ-(ˌ)gō-ˌi-zəm 

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

jingoist

ˈjiŋ-(ˌ)gō-ist 

noun or adjective

jingoistic

ˌjiŋ-gō-ˈi-stik 

adjective

jingoistically

ˌjiŋ-gō-ˈi-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

jingoist

2 of 3

noun (2)

jin·​go·​ist -ə̇st 

plural -s

: jingo

the magniloquent parrot cries of the jingoist

—Spectator

jingoist

3 of 3

adjective

"

variants or jingoistic

¦⸗(ˌ)⸗¦istik 

: jingo

a jingoist slogan advocating war

jingoistic national pride

—New Republic

jingoistically

-tə̇k(ə)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms of jingoism

Noun (1)

• nationalism
• patriotism
• chauvinism

Examples of jingoism in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

This was an era of over-the-top displays of patriotism and even jingoism; the phrase Let’s make America great again was in. —Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026

Tapping into national pride — dare say jingoism — might have done the trick. —Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026

The positive feelings people have toward their community translate directly into civic engagement, without the risk of increasing negative feelings such as jingoism or xenophobia. —Sean Richey, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026

Amid depictions of a lost nation, scrambling in the aftermath of the Columbine shooting and September 11, soliciting a spectrum of jingoism and conspiratorial thinking, the suburbs were ground zero for overheated cultural analysis. —Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

jingo entry 2 + -ism

Noun (2)

jingo entry 2 + -ist

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1878, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for jingoism

• dichroism