A patriot is someone who feels strong love and support for their country and is willing to help and defend it. The word is often used for people who fight or work hard for their nation’s freedom or well-being.
“Patriot” comes from Greek *patriōtēs*, meaning “fellow countryman,” from *patris* (“fatherland”) and *patēr* (“father”). It moved into French and then English with the sense of someone devoted to their homeland.
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