Word: jingoism (noun)

Associations

Jingoism means very strong and aggressive patriotism, often with a desire to fight or go to war to show your country's power. It is about being loudly proud of your country but in a way that can make other countries feel threatened.

• Example 1: "The politician's jingoism made people worried about rising tensions between the countries." Here, it shows how aggressive patriotism can lead to conflict.
• Example 2: "During the war, jingoism was common in the newspapers, encouraging people to support the fight." This means the media pushed very strong patriotic feelings.
• Example 3: "Jingoism is different from simple patriotism because it is more about wanting to fight or show power, not just loving your country."

Synonym: patriotism.
Difference: Patriotism is love for your country, usually peaceful and positive. Jingoism is extreme patriotism with a readiness to use force or war.

Substitution

You can use words like:

• extreme patriotism (more neutral)
• nationalism (similar but can be broader, sometimes more political)
• chauvinism (similar, but often means belief your group is better than others, not only about country) Changing the word changes the tone: "jingoism" sounds more aggressive than "patriotism."

Deconstruction

"Jingoism" comes from the word "jingo," which was a slang term from a British song in the late 1800s. The song had the words "by jingo," a mild oath, and it was used to express readiness to fight for the country. The suffix "-ism" means a belief or practice. So, jingoism means the belief in aggressive patriotism.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when someone showed jingoism in a movie or book?
• How is jingoism different from just feeling proud of your country?
• Why do you think jingoism can sometimes cause problems between countries?