patriotic

adjective

pa·​tri·​ot·​ic ˌpā-trē-ˈä-tik 

 chiefly British  ˌpa-

1

: inspired by patriotism

stirring patriotic songs

patriotic organizations

patriotic feelings

2

: befitting or characteristic of a patriot

patriotically

ˌpā-trē-ˈä-ti-k(ə-)lē 

 chiefly British  ˌpa-

adverb

Synonyms

• nationalist
• nationalistic

Examples of patriotic in a Sentence

A patriotic fervor swept the country.

hanging a flag outside one's home is a patriotic gesture

Recent Examples on the Web

Answer: Why not go red, white and blue for the patriotic holiday arriving in only a few weeks. —Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025

The nearly 300-year Trooping the Color has long served as a way for patriotic, pro-royal Britons to officially honor their monarch’s birthday — even if the current king’s actual birthday is months away. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 12 June 2025

In 2024, Patriot Front held demonstrations on patriotic holidays such as Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day. —Art Jipson, The Conversation, 11 June 2025

The fans could not get enough of this patriotic moment, and their reactions were spot on. —Savannah Leigh Richardson, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for patriotic

• abiotic
• aeronautic
• apoptotic
• asymptotic
• cyanotic
• eukaryotic
• idiotic
• meiotic
• prebiotic
• probiotic
• prokaryotic
• semiotic

Kids Definition

patriotic

adjective

pa·​tri·​ot·​ic ˌpā-trē-ˈät-ik 

1

: having or showing patriotism

2

: suitable or proper for a patriot

patriotically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb