Nationalist
/ˈnæʃənəlɪst/noun
A person who strongly identifies with and promotes the interests of their nation, sometimes prioritizing it over other nations.
Did you know?The word nationalist emerged in the nineteenth century, when mass politics transformed the older idea of a nation—originally linked to birth or descent—into a powerful political identity.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵenh₁-
“to beget, give birth, or produce”
Classical Latin
Latin
nātiō
“birth, descent, race, or people”
13th Century
Old French
nacion
“nation, people, or country”
13th Century
Middle English
nacioun
“a people or community connected by birth or origin”
17th Century
English
national
“relating to a nation”
19th Century
English
nationalist
“a person who advocates or identifies strongly with national interests”