nationalism

nationalism — noun

1. The belief that a people who share a common history, language, or culture deserv

1.nounB2
Definition

The belief that a people who share a common history, language, or culture deserve to form and govern their own independent country.

Example

In the 1960s, nationalism swept across Africa as Kenya demanded control over its own government.

collocation: nationalism swept across [region]

Zuri's grandfather wrote newspaper articles calling for nationalism and an end to foreign rule in their country.

calling for + nationalism

Common collocations
  • nationalism movement
  • rise of nationalism
  • wave of nationalism
  • nationalism swept
Synonyms
  • self-determination

    the right of a people to decide their own political status; narrower and more legal than nationalism

  • independence movement

    the organised effort to achieve a country's freedom; more concrete than nationalism as an abstract belief

  • separatism

    the desire to break away from an existing country; often carries a more negative tone than nationalism

Antonyms
  • colonialism

    the policy of one country controlling another; directly opposed to nationalist independence

  • imperialism

    the practice of extending a country's power over other nations; the opposite of nationalist self-rule

Grammar Patterns

nationalism + verb (swept, grew, spread)

rise/wave of + nationalism

Usage Note

This sense focuses on political self-determination and is generally neutral or positive. In history textbooks, nationalism is often described as a force that ended colonial empires and created new nations.

Common Mistakes

The nationalism of Quebec wants to leave Canada.
The nationalist movement in Quebec wants Quebec to leave Canada.
'Nationalism' is an idea, not an organisation; use 'nationalist movement' for the group of people.

2. A strong feeling of pride and loyalty toward one's own country, often combined w

2.nounB2
Definition

A strong feeling of pride and loyalty toward one's own country, often combined with the idea that one's country ranks above all others.

Example

Ayesha noticed that the nationalism in her town made shop owners refuse to serve foreign tourists.

nationalism + negative consequence in a community

Extreme nationalism can lead people to look down on visitors from other countries.

extreme nationalism as subject + verb phrase

Common collocations
  • extreme nationalism
  • blind nationalism
  • narrow nationalism
  • growing nationalism
Synonyms
  • patriotism

    love of one's country without hostility to others; generally positive in tone

  • chauvinism

    an aggressive, exaggerated belief in the superiority of one's own country; stronger and more negative than nationalism

  • jingoism

    extreme nationalism that supports a warlike foreign policy; the most negative of the three

Antonyms
  • cosmopolitanism

    the idea that all people belong to a single global community rather than any one nation

  • internationalism

    a belief in cooperation between nations for shared goals

Grammar Patterns

extreme/blind/narrow + nationalism

nationalism + verb (leads to, breeds, fuels)

Usage Note

This sense often carries a critical tone — the speaker or writer implies that the love of country has become too strong or has led to negative attitudes toward outsiders. The related word patriotism (愛國心) does not carry this negative judgment.

Common Mistakes

I feel a lot of nationalism for Taiwan.
I feel a lot of pride in Taiwan.
For a positive, personal feeling about your own country, use 'patriotism' or 'pride'; 'nationalism' in this sense often suggests an overly strong or negative attitude.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Nationalism, patriotism, jingoism, and chauvinism all involve love of or loyalty to one's country, but they differ greatly in intensity and tone. Patriotism is a healthy, proud attachment to one's country without hostility toward others — it focuses on the country's values, history, and achievements. Nationalism often carries a stronger sense of superiority and can include the belief that one's nation is better than others, though it does not necessarily call for aggression. Chauvinism is an aggressive, exaggerated form of national pride that dismisses other nations as inferior. Jingoism is the most extreme, marked by a warlike foreign policy and an arrogant belief in national superiority. For example, displaying a flag on a national holiday is patriotism; insisting that only one's own language be spoken in all public places is nationalism; calling for war to prove national dominance is jingoism.

patriotismjingoismchauvinism

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • rise of nationalism
  • wave of nationalism
  • sense of nationalism
  • brand of nationalism

Prepositions

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

Nationalism comes from the French word 'nationalisme', which combines 'national' (relating to a nation) with the suffix '-ism' (a belief or system). The word entered English in the late 1700s, around the time of the French Revolution, when thinkers began to argue that each group sharing a language, culture, and history should have its own independent government.