Meaning & use

nationalism

noun·Academic

A strong sense of identity and loyalty to one's nation, often including a belief in its right to independence or dominance.

See it in a sentence

Rising nationalism in the region led to increased tension between neighboring countries.

The novel explores how nationalism shaped ordinary people's lives during the war.

A note on using this word

Nationalism is often distinguished from 'patriotism': patriotism usually implies pride in one's country, while nationalism can imply superiority over others.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

internationalism

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