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Webster 1913 Edition

Chauvinism

Chau′vin-ism

,
Noun.
[F.
chauvinisme
, from
Nicolas
Chauvin
, a character represented as making grotesque and threatening displays of his attachment to his fallen chief, Napoleon I., in 1815 (in the play La Cocarde tricolor, 1831).]
1.
Blind and absurd devotion to a fallen leader or an obsolete cause; hence, absurdly vainglorious or exaggerated patriotism.
–
Chau′vin-ist
,
Noun.
&
Adj.
–
Chauˊvin-is′tic
,
Adj.
☞ To have a generous belief in the greatness of one’s country is not chauvinism. It is the character of the latter quality to be wildly extravagant, to be fretful and childish and silly, to resent a doubt as an insult, and to offend by its very frankness.
Prof. H. Tuttle.

Definition 2024

chauvinism

chauvinism

English

Noun

chauvinism ‎(countable and uncountable, plural chauvinisms)

  1. (pejorative) Excessive patriotism, eagerness for national superiority; jingoism.
  2. (pejorative) Unwarranted bias, favoritism, or devotion to one's own particular group, cause, or idea.
    Feminists say that male chauvinism is still prevalent in cultures worldwide.

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Swedish

Noun

chauvinism c

  1. chauvinism

Declension

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Etymology

Borrowing from French chauvinisme ‎(“idealistic devotion to Napoleon”), named for Nicolas Chauvin, a legendary and excessively patriotic soldier of the French First Republic. The figure of Chauvin became especially famous as a character in the play La Cocarde Tricolore by the Cogniard brothers.

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