chauvinist
C1Formal/Critical
Definition
Meaning
A person displaying excessive and prejudiced loyalty or support for their own group, cause, or gender, especially men displaying prejudice against women.
Originally describing extreme patriotism, the term now primarily denotes a person, especially a man, with prejudiced beliefs in the inherent superiority of their own group (like their gender or nationality) and an irrational contempt for others.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term has undergone semantic narrowing. While still applicable to excessive nationalism, its dominant contemporary use is gender-related ('male chauvinist'). It carries a strongly negative connotation of unreasoned bias.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally used in both varieties.
Connotations
Universally negative. The gendered sense ('male chauvinist pig') was heavily popularised in US feminism but is standard globally.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to its prominence in 1970s feminist discourse, but the difference is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] a chauvinist[accuse someone of being] a chauvinist[behave like] a chauvinistVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “male chauvinist pig (MCP)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used critically to describe outdated, gender-biased attitudes in hiring or promotion.
Academic
Used in gender studies, sociology, and political science to analyse prejudice and nationalism.
Everyday
Common in discussions about gender relations and equality; often used in arguments or social commentary.
Technical
Not a technical term per se, but a precise critical label in social sciences.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A. 'Chauvinist' is not used as a verb. The verb form is 'to be chauvinistic'.
American English
- N/A. 'Chauvinist' is not used as a verb. The verb form is 'to be chauvinistic'.
adverb
British English
- N/A. The adverbial form 'chauvinistically' is extremely rare and stylistically marked.
American English
- N/A. The adverbial form 'chauvinistically' is extremely rare and stylistically marked.
adjective
British English
- His chauvinistic views made him unpopular with the team.
- The article criticised the chauvinistic tone of the debate.
American English
- She called out his chauvinistic behavior at the meeting.
- The policy was dismissed as chauvinistic and outdated.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He is a chauvinist. He thinks men are better than women.
- Her boss was an old-fashioned chauvinist who never promoted female employees.
- The film exposed the chauvinist culture that pervaded the industry for decades.
- While often decried as a male chauvinist, his economic nationalism also appealed to a form of cultural chauvinism.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SHOW-off VINIST' – someone who is always *showing* off their belief that their own group (like their *vine*/country/gender) is best.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRIBE OVER ALL (blind loyalty to one's group), BLIND SPOT (inability to see other groups' merits).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'шовинизм' (shovinizm), which retains the stronger primary meaning of aggressive nationalism. The English word's default meaning for learners is now 'male sexist'.
- The adjective 'chauvinistic' is more common than the noun in some contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'chauvenist', 'chovinist'.
- Using it as a generic synonym for 'patriot' (it is an extreme, negative form).
- Confusing 'male chauvinist' with 'macho' (macho relates to masculine display, not necessarily prejudice).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common contemporary meaning of 'chauvinist'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It comes from the name Nicolas Chauvin, a legendary, excessively patriotic French soldier featured in 19th-century stories and plays. It originally meant 'blind patriot'.
Yes, though less common. The term can apply to anyone displaying excessive, prejudiced loyalty to their own group (e.g., female chauvinist, national chauvinist). However, without a modifier, 'chauvinist' typically implies 'male chauvinist'.
'Chauvinist' implies a more aggressive, boastful, and unapologetic form of sexism, often tied to a belief in inherent superiority. 'Sexist' is a broader, more general term for gender-based prejudice.
Yes, in modern use. It describes an irrational and excessive bias, so it is inherently pejorative. Calling someone a chauvinist is a criticism.
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