noun

nationalism

/ˈnæʃənəlɪzəm/ · say it: NASH·uh·nul·iz·um

strong identification with and promotion of one's nation

In Politics & Diplomacy

In more detail

1. (noun) strong pride in and love for one's own country

2. (noun) the desire of a country or group to be independent and not ruled by another country

Examples

1. Growing nationalism among young people led them to support their country's independence.
2. The nationalism movement in the region sought to break free from colonial rule.

How to use nationalism

Nationalism refers to devotion to one's nation and its interests, but carries significant ambiguity: it can describe healthy civic pride or dangerous, exclusionary ideology. The term is often used analytically in political and historical contexts. It differs from patriotism in that nationalism emphasizes national identity and sovereignty, sometimes with an element of superiority or resistance to external control.

Common phrases

rise of nationalism
surge in nationalism
economic nationalism
resurgent nationalism
nationalist sentiment

Synonyms

patriotism · national pride · national consciousness · ethnic identity · separatism

Opposites

internationalism · cosmopolitanism · globalism

Word family

nationalist (noun, adjective) · nationalistic (adjective) · nationalistically (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners often conflate nationalism with patriotism, but nationalism more specifically involves pride in national distinctiveness and often aspirations for independence or supremacy, whereas patriotism is simply love of country.

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