na·tion·al·ist
ˈna-sh(ə-)nə-list 
plural nationalists
: an advocate of or believer in nationalism: such as
a
: a member of a political party or group advocating a government that is strongly committed to nationalism (see nationalism sense 1)
Nationalists in the United States and elsewhere advocate wide-ranging government control of the economy, most notably in the form of industrial policy, protectionism, and immigration restrictionism.—
Alex Nowrasteh and Ilya Somin
Alex Nowrasteh and Ilya Somin
b
: a member of a political party or group advocating national independence
An independent Wales, nationalists point out, would still be larger than 39 other self-sufficient nations …—Peter Stuart
Peter Stuart1
: of, relating to, or advocating nationalism
After independence, nationalist fervor rejected compulsory English instruction in favor of the national language, Pilipino, which is based on Tagalog, a tongue spoken by the population around Manila.—Edwin Kiester, Jr. and Sally Valente Kiester
Edwin Kiester, Jr. and Sally Valente Kiester2
sometimes Nationalist
: of or constituting a political group or party advocating or associated with nationalism
the group's nationalist agenda
… the strength of the Nationalist vote greatly inhibits the possibility of a majority Labour government …—Brian Wilson
—often used in the capitalized names of specific groupsBrian Wilsona member of the Irish Nationalist Party
Examples of nationalist in a Sentence
Noun
a staunch nationalist who favored any policy that would give the country more power in the international arena
Adjective
The country's Nationalist Party won the election.
most of the articles on the website are nationalist propaganda and not objective by any means
Recent Examples on the Web
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025
In 1950, two Puerto Rican nationalists opened fire on Blair House, where President Harry Truman lived during the White House's renovation.
—Barbara A. Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 2 May 2025
Many saw that as an effort to lean on a potent nationalist symbol — the military as the protector and defender of Kashmir — while the country deals with unrest in two provinces and political tensions persist nationwide.
—Anupreeta Das, New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nationalist
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Noun
Quebec nationalists believe that at the right time and under the right circumstances, a third referendum will be the charm.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025
In 1950, two Puerto Rican nationalists opened fire on Blair House, where President Harry Truman lived during the White House's renovation.
—Barbara A. Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
At the same time, the Trump Administration seems to be trying to appeal to a broad coalition that runs from traditional small-government Republicans to Silicon Valley techno-libertarians and the nationalist hard right.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 2 May 2025
Many saw that as an effort to lean on a potent nationalist symbol — the military as the protector and defender of Kashmir — while the country deals with unrest in two provinces and political tensions persist nationwide.
—Anupreeta Das, New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nationalist
Cite this Entry
“Nationalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalist. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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