nationalism

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noun na·tion·al·ism \ˈnash-nə-ˌli-zəm, ˈna-shə-nə-ˌli-zəm\

Simple Definition of nationalism

: a feeling that people have of being loyal to and proud of their country often with the belief that it is better and more important than other countries
: a desire by a large group of people (such as people who share the same culture, history, language, etc.) to form a separate and independent nation of their own

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

Full Definition of nationalism

1 : loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially : a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups
2 : a nationalist movement or government

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Examples of nationalism in a sentence

The war was caused by nationalism and greed.
<Nazism's almost epic nationalism appealed to downtrodden Germans still suffering the humiliation of being defeated in World War I.>

The difference between nationalism, patriotism, sectionalism, and jingoism

Nationalism has a number of near-synonyms, each of which carries its own distinct meaning. Patriotism is similar insofar as it emphasizes strong feelings for one’s country, but it does not necessarily imply an attitude of superiority. Sectionalism resembles nationalism in its suggestion of a geopolitical group pursuing its self-interest, but the group in question is usually smaller than an entire nation. Jingoism closely resembles nationalism in suggesting feelings of cultural superiority, but unlike nationalism, it always implies military aggressiveness.

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