revanchism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Political
Quick answer
What does “revanchism” mean?
A policy or ideology aimed at regaining lost territory or avenging a defeat, often associated with nationalist sentiment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A policy or ideology aimed at regaining lost territory or avenging a defeat, often associated with nationalist sentiment.
Beyond territorial claims, it can describe a persistent, bitter desire for retaliation or redress in political, economic, or social contexts after a perceived humiliation or loss.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or definition differences.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term is strongly linked to historical and political analysis, with negative connotations of dangerous, backward-looking nationalism.
Frequency
Equally rare in everyday speech in both regions, used primarily in historical, political science, and international relations discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “revanchism” in a Sentence
[Country/Group]'s revanchism towards [lost territory/adversary]the revanchism of [political movement]a policy of revanchismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “revanchism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The faction sought to revanchise the nation's foreign policy. (Note: very rare, derived)
American English
- Their rhetoric seemed designed to revanchise the political debate. (Note: very rare, derived)
adverb
British English
- The speech was revanchistically themed, focusing on past humiliations. (Note: extremely rare)
American English
- They argued revanchistically for a return to former borders. (Note: extremely rare)
adjective
British English
- The revanchist rhetoric alarmed the international community.
- He held revanchist views about the colonial era.
American English
- The regime's revanchist ambitions were clear.
- A revanchist faction within the party gained influence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically to describe a company's aggressive strategy to reclaim lost market share.
Academic
Common in history and political science to analyse post-war policies and nationalist movements.
Everyday
Very rare. Would be considered an advanced, specialised term.
Technical
Used as a precise term in political theory and international relations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “revanchism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “revanchism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “revanchism”
- Using it as a synonym for any form of revenge in personal contexts (too strong/historical).
- Confusing it with 'revisionism' (which is about reinterpreting history, not necessarily reclaiming territory).
- Misspelling as 'revengeism'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Revanchism is a specific, aggressive form of nationalism focused on avenging a past defeat or reclaiming lost territories. All revanchism is nationalist, but not all nationalism is revanchist.
It is strongly discouraged. The term carries significant historical and political weight. Using it for personal revenge trivialises the concept and can sound unnatural or overly dramatic.
They are closely related. Irredentism specifically aims to reclaim territories considered ethnically or historically related. Revanchism is broader, encompassing the desire for revenge or reversal of any defeat, which may or may not involve territorial claims.
It is both. As an adjective: 'a revanchist policy'. As a noun: 'He was a revanchist' (meaning a person who advocates revanchism).
A policy or ideology aimed at regaining lost territory or avenging a defeat, often associated with nationalist sentiment.
Revanchism is usually formal, academic, political in register.
Revanchism: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈvɑːnʃɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈvæn(t)ʃɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"The ghost of revanchism" (referring to a lingering desire for revenge)”
- “"To fuel the fires of revanchism"”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE-VANQUISH-ism. It's the ideology of wanting to vanquish an enemy AGAIN to reverse a past loss.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATION IS A PERSON WRONGED (seeking redress/revenge). HISTORY IS A SCORE TO BE SETTLED.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'revanchism' MOST accurately applied?