patriot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, political, historical, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “patriot” mean?
A person who strongly loves, supports, and defends their country.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who strongly loves, supports, and defends their country.
A person who is devoted to their country's welfare, often through active participation or sacrifice, and who may express loyalty through critical support rather than blind allegiance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is broadly similar, but more common in American political discourse. 'Patriot' has a stronger historical and constitutional resonance in the US.
Connotations
UK: Often associated with historical figures, wartime service, or a more restrained civic pride. US: Strongly tied to founding ideals, the military, and national identity; can be used more assertively in political rhetoric.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US English, especially in political and media contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “patriot” in a Sentence
[be] a patriot[consider/view/regard] someone as a patriot[prove/show] oneself a patriot[accuse/call] someone a patriotVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “patriot” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The act does not patriotise individuals; true feeling comes from within.
- (Note: 'patriot' is almost exclusively a noun; verb forms are extremely rare/non-standard.)
American English
- You can't legislate someone to patriot; it's a state of heart and mind.
- (Note: 'patriot' is almost exclusively a noun; verb forms are extremely rare/non-standard.)
adverb
British English
- He acted patriotically, not just patriot.
- (Note: 'patriot' as an adverb does not exist; use 'patriotically'.)
American English
- They served patriotically, not for glory.
- (Note: 'patriot' as an adverb does not exist; use 'patriotically'.)
adjective
British English
- The patriot cause inspired many to enlist.
- He gave a rousing, patriot speech.
American English
- She displayed a deeply patriot spirit during the crisis.
- The film had a strong patriot theme.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in names of companies or products (e.g., 'Patriot Bank').
Academic
Used in political science, history, and sociology to discuss national identity, civic virtue, and nationalism.
Everyday
Used to describe someone with strong national pride, especially on national holidays or in political discussions.
Technical
Used as a proper name in military systems (e.g., Patriot missile defence system).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “patriot”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “patriot”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “patriot”
- Pronunciation: Not /pəˈtraɪ.ət/. Spelling confusion with 'patrol' or 'patron'. Using 'patriot' to mean simply a resident rather than a devoted supporter.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily positive, denoting love for one's country. However, it can acquire negative connotations if associated with extreme nationalism ('blind patriot'), jingoism, or exclusionary politics.
Traditionally, 'patriot' emphasises love and devotion to one's country, often with a focus on its values and people. 'Nationalist' more strongly emphasises promoting the interests and culture of one's nation, often in opposition to others, and can imply superiority. The terms are often conflated in modern usage.
Yes, this is a key distinction. Many definitions of patriotism include the concept of 'critical patriotism' or 'dissent as a patriotic duty', where loving one's country involves holding its government to account to uphold its ideals.
The word 'patriot' is gender-neutral. Historically, 'patriotess' was used but is now archaic. A female patriot is simply called a patriot.
A person who strongly loves, supports, and defends their country.
Patriot is usually formal, political, historical, journalistic in register.
Patriot: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪ.tri.ət/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪ.tri.ət/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Patriots' Day (US holiday)”
- “the patriot game (refers to risky political activism)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PATRIOT' = PATRI (like in 'patriarch' meaning father) + OT. A patriot sees their country as a fatherland to be protected.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATION IS A FAMILY (Fatherland/Motherland); LOYALTY IS A BOND; SERVING ONE'S COUNTRY IS A SACRIFICE.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely synonym for 'patriot' in a neutral context?