People who advocate for or support the interests and independence of their particular nation. Individuals who believe in the principle of national self-determination and prioritize their country's sovereignty.
From French nationaliste, formed from national (from Latin nationalis) plus the suffix -ist. The term emerged during the French Revolution in the 1790s and spread throughout Europe as ideas of national identity and self-governance developed in the 19th century.
The word 'nationalist' has undergone dramatic shifts in connotation depending on historical context - it was heroic when applied to independence movements like those in colonial America or India, but became associated with extremism after its adoption by fascist movements. Modern usage carefully distinguishes between patriotic nationalism and ethnic nationalism.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.