Patriotism
Etymology
From Greek "patris" (fatherland), from "patēr" (father), via Late Latin "patriota" (fellow countryman) and French "patriotisme." The paternal root frames the nation as a family one owes loyalty — a metaphor with real emotional force and real risks.
noun · /PAY-tree-uh-tiz-um/
Devotion to and love for one’s own country.
What it names
An attachment defined by love of one’s own, which is why it can either coexist with respect for others or curdle into contempt for them.
Example
His patriotism took the form of paying his taxes honestly and criticizing his government loudly, not waving flags.
Related idea
Patriotism is love of one’s country; nationalism adds the belief that one’s nation is superior and should dominate, so the two can point in opposite directions — a patriot may oppose what a nationalist demands.
See also