chauvinism

Definition

Excessive patriotism, eagerness for national superiority; jingoism.

Etymology

Borrowed from French chauvinisme (“idealistic devotion to Napoleon”), named for Nicolas Chauvin, a legendary and excessively patriotic soldier of the French First Republic. The figure of Chauvin became especially famous as a character in the play La Cocarde Tricolore by the Cogniard brothers.

Example Sentences

• "(C. S.) Lewis occasionally expressed a somewhat tongue-in-cheek chauvinism towards the English. Describing an encounter with a fellow Irishman, he wrote: "Like all Irish people who meet in England, we ended by criticisms on the invincible flippancy and dullness of the Anglo-Saxon race."
• "Feminists say that male chauvinism is still prevalent in cultures worldwide."
• "“This is an outrageous example of unconscious racial chauvinism!” Jack said."

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