Nationalism
Freedom marches, World Cup stadiums, and campus election seasons all ride waves of this noun, and examiners love asking where devotion ends and doctrine begins.
Learn This WordMeaning
Pride and devotion to the nation.
Memory trick
NATION + ISM: love of nation turned into a system of belief.
Examples
Nationalism fueled the freedom drive.
Stadium nationalism peaks during a World Cup final and fades by the traffic jam home.
Her essay argued that cultural nationalism built libraries, not just borders.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
Nation + -ism, rising in the 19th century when modern states needed a story citizens would die for. Devotion organized into doctrine.
Usage Notes
Handle with shades: patriotism (love), nationalism (doctrine), chauvinism and jingoism (aggressive forms). Examiners reward the distinctions.
Real-life contexts
Use in history: "Print capitalism spread nationalism fast."
Use in essays: "Nationalism unites in freedom struggles."
Use carefully: "Distinguish nationalism from jingoism."
Common Mistakes
Nationalism is devotion to one’s nation, not hatred of others by definition; keep the aggressive edge for chauvinism. Avoid using it as a casual synonym for pride.
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Start LearningQuick Facts
Part of Speech
noun
Difficulty
intermediateMonthly Searches
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