The practice of enthusiastically promoting or advertising something (usually a place or organization) with exaggerated claims, often for business or civic pride.
'Booster' comes from 'boost' (to lift or promote), with the -er suffix creating 'one who boosts.' Adding '-ism' creates an abstract noun describing the practice or ideology itself. Emerged in American English in the late 1800s.
During the early 1900s, American cities competed wildly to attract railroads and businesses, leading to exaggerated promotion so common it got its own word. Today's 'boosterism' describes the same hype culture in sports, tourism, and startups!
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