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 of patriotic

• nationalistic
• nationalist

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

The party of the president had no effect on Republican patriotic sentiment. —Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026

The brothers’ story shows not just the friction that separates a family with different patriotic allegiances, but also the geographical and physical separation of having one of them far away in America. —Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026

On August 12, the general was greeted in New Haven with patriotic fervor. —Regina E. Mason, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026

Then, season 16 had the patriotic funk-song challenge, where nobody went home, and season 17 had the makeover episode. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026

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