jingoism
C2Formal, critical, political discourse
Definition
Meaning
Extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike foreign policy.
A bellicose, chauvinistic form of nationalism characterized by a belligerent attitude towards other nations, often accompanied by the belief in the superiority of one's own country and a readiness to use military force.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always carries a negative, critical connotation. It is not a neutral term for patriotism. It implies aggression, militarism, and a lack of consideration for other nations or diplomacy. The word originates from a 19th-century British music-hall song with the refrain, "By Jingo!"
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major difference in meaning or spelling. The term originated in the UK but is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical negative connotations in both varieties. In the UK, there may be a stronger historical association with 19th-century imperialist attitudes.
Frequency
Equally used in political and academic commentary in both the UK and US. It is a low-frequency, high-register word.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] jingoism (e.g., denounce, exhibit, fuel, promote)jingoism [Verb] (e.g., jingoism prevails, escalated, subsided)[Adjective] jingoismVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “By Jingo! (historical origin phrase)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. May appear in analysis of markets affected by nationalist policies (e.g., "Trade wars are often fueled by economic jingoism.").
Academic
Common in political science, history, and international relations texts to critique nationalist ideologies and foreign policy.
Everyday
Uncommon. Would be used in political discussions or media commentary to criticise aggressive nationalist rhetoric.
Technical
Not a technical term, but used as a specific label in political discourse analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The tabloids often jingoistically support any military action abroad.
- He was accused of jingoising the debate on immigration.
American English
- The politician's speech jingoistically framed the conflict as a simple good-versus-evil struggle.
- Some commentators warn against jingoising the trade dispute.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The politician's speech was full of jingoism.
- Many people think the newspaper promotes jingoism.
- The government was accused of resorting to crude jingoism to boost its popularity during the crisis.
- Historians often analyse the jingoistic press that led up to the declaration of war.
- The chancellor's bellicose rhetoric was denounced as dangerous jingoism that undermined diplomatic efforts.
- A wave of popular jingoism, fuelled by sensationalist media, made a peaceful resolution politically difficult for the administration.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'JINGO' as someone who is eager to 'GO' to war with a 'JINGLE' of nationalist slogans.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATION IS A PERSON (a belligerent, arrogant person); PATRIOTISM IS A DISEASE/EXCESS (implying an unhealthy or disproportionate amount).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as simple "патриотизм" (patriotism), which is neutral or positive. Closer equivalents are "шовинизм" (chauvinism), "ура-патриотизм" (hurrah-patriotism), or "агрессивный национализм" (aggressive nationalism).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a neutral or positive term for love of country. Confusing it with general 'nationalism' without the aggressive component. Pronouncing the 'g' as soft (/dʒ/ is correct).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'jingoism' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Patriotism is a neutral or positive love for one's country. Jingoism is an extreme, aggressive, and belligerent form of nationalism, always carrying a negative connotation.
It originates from a British music-hall song from 1878, which used the minced oath "by Jingo!" in a refrain supporting a belligerent policy against Russia: "We don't want to fight but by Jingo if we do..."
Almost never. It is a critical term used by commentators, historians, and politicians to condemn what they see as excessive, aggressive nationalism. Using it positively would be highly unconventional and likely misunderstood.
The adjective is 'jingoistic'. For example, 'a jingoistic newspaper headline'.
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