nationalist
nationalist Lexical Profile
nationalist Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who strongly identifies with their own nation and vigorously supports its interests, often to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.
"The prominent political theorist wrote extensively about how modern nationalists view global trade agreements."
A person who advocates for the political independence or self-determination of a particular country or people.
"During the nineteenth century, many cultural leaders and writers became ardent nationalists campaigning for self-rule."
• adjective
Relating to, characteristic of, or supporting nationalism or national independence.
"The archive preserves pamphlets and letters from early nationalist movements across Europe."
Word Nuance & Usage
As an adjective, 'nationalist' is usually neutral and descriptive (e.g., 'the nationalist movement'), whereas 'nationalistic' often carries a disapproving connotation of excessive or exclusionary pride.
• Rhymes for nationalist
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the early 18th century from 'national' plus the suffix '-ist'; 'nation' derives from Latin 'natio' ('birth, tribe, or people'), from 'nasci' ('to be born').