chauvinism
C1Formal, academic, journalistic, political discourse.
Definition
Meaning
Excessive, irrational, or aggressive patriotism; belief in the superiority of one's own group (especially gender, nation, or ethnicity).
Originally referring to blind nationalism (after Nicolas Chauvin, a legendary French soldier), it now predominantly describes prejudiced belief in the superiority of men over women ('male chauvinism'), or more broadly, any prejudiced loyalty to a group to which one belongs.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The dominant modern sense is 'male chauvinism,' often shortened to just 'chauvinism' in everyday contexts. The original nationalistic sense is still used but often requires a qualifier (e.g., 'national chauvinism'). The term inherently carries a negative, critical connotation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The term 'male chauvinist pig' was a potent cultural phrase in both regions during second-wave feminism.
Connotations
Identical negative connotation. Slightly more likely to be used in its original nationalist sense in UK historical/political commentary.
Frequency
Comparable frequency, common in gender/political studies and opinion journalism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + chauvinism: display, exhibit, combat, oppose, criticise, denounce, root outchauvinism + [verb]: persists, prevails, underminesadjective + chauvinism: male, national, great-power, linguisticVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Male chauvinist pig (MCP)”
- “Chauvinist tendencies”
- “A whiff of chauvinism”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Criticised in discussions of gender pay gaps, glass ceilings, and non-inclusive corporate culture.
Academic
Key term in gender studies, political science, sociology, and critical theory.
Everyday
Most commonly used to describe sexist attitudes or behaviours, especially from men.
Technical
Used in political philosophy to describe aggressive nationalist ideologies.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- His chauvinism made him dismiss her suggestions out of hand.
- The party was accused of retreating into a narrow-minded economic chauvinism.
American English
- The film exposed the casual chauvinism of the industry.
- Their foreign policy was marked by a strong streak of national chauvinism.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She left the company because of the male chauvinism there.
- Sports chauvinism is when fans think their team is always the best.
- The debate revealed an underlying chauvinism that surprised many observers.
- Critics argue that the new policy is driven more by cultural chauvinism than practical needs.
- His critique dismantled the intellectual chauvinism inherent in the canonical Western philosophy curriculum.
- The movement sought to combat both national chauvinism and the more subtle forms of gender-based prejudice in daily interactions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SHOW-off VINism' – someone who has to SHOW they're from a certain group (like a nation or gender) and thinks it's superior, like a wine (vin) snob but for people.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHAUVINISM IS A BLINDER (it prevents seeing the value of others). CHAUVINISM IS A DISEASE (it infects society and requires a cure).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'шовинизм' only in the narrow nationalistic sense; in English, the gender sense is primary. Avoid using neutrally; it is always pejorative.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a synonym for simple 'patriotism' (it is excessive). Confusing it with 'chauvinist' as a person without specifying 'male/national/etc.' can be ambiguous. Misspelling: 'chauvanism'. Incorrect pronunciation: /tʃɔː.vɪ.nɪ.zəm/.
Practice
Quiz
In its most common contemporary usage, 'chauvinism' most specifically refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Sexism' is the broader system of discrimination based on sex. 'Male chauvinism' is a specific, aggressive form of sexism characterized by a blatant belief in male superiority. All male chauvinism is sexism, but not all sexism is as overtly arrogant as chauvinism.
Yes, though less common. 'Female chauvinism' would refer to a belief in female superiority. The term 'chauvinism' itself is group-neutral, but its most frequent collocation is 'male'.
Yes, in modern English. It denotes an excessive, unreasonable, and often aggressive attitude. There is no positive or neutral form of 'chauvinism'.
It comes from the name Nicolas Chauvin, a legendary (and possibly fictional) French soldier from the Napoleonic era, who was used as a symbol of fanatical, bellicose patriotism in 19th-century French theatre.
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