patriotism

noun

pa·​tri·​ot·​ism ˈpā-trē-ə-ˌti-zəm 

chiefly British ˈpa-

: love for or devotion to one's country

Although poles apart ideologically, they are both unashamed of their patriotism.

—Christopher Hemphill

Synonyms of patriotism

• nationalism

Examples of patriotism in a Sentence

You may not agree with him politically, but no one can question his patriotism.

They supported the war with a fierce patriotism.

Recent Examples on the Web

In it, Reed questions American policy, surveillance, and patriotism across a landscape that juxtaposes scenes of Black youth playing with closing shots of the singer’s silhouette backdropped by flames. — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2026

Kim Jong Il appointed him to senior trade and economic posts, and in 2002 the state awarded him a Hero of Labor medal and a Kim Il Sung watch, prestigious honors and a recognition of his loyalty and patriotism. — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026

The slight reproach to which the virtue of patriotism is commonly liable, the noble are most likely to incur. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

But in showing an absent army and focusing on security failures, the film is, for all its undercurrents of unity and patriotism, at least implicitly critical of the Netanyahu government in charge at the time. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1716, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for patriotism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• sophism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism

Kids Definition

patriotism

noun

pa·​tri·​ot·​ism ˈpā-trē-ə-ˌtiz-əm 

: love of one's own country