noun
patriotism
PAT-ree-uh-tih-zuhm
noun
1
Love of and devotion to one's country; pride in and loyalty toward one's homeland.
"The speech was full of patriotism and calls for national unity."
"Their patriotism led many young men to volunteer for service."
How to Use Patriotism
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe feeling of pride and loyalty someone has for their own country.
Common mistake
Patriotism (love of country) can shade into nationalism (a belief in the superiority or dominance of one's nation) — the words overlap but aren't identical.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sense of patriotism
blind patriotism
act of patriotism
Word Forms
patriotisms plural
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The speech was full of _____ and calls for national unity.
Etymology
Formed from patriot plus the suffix -ism, denoting a belief or attitude.