chauvinism

[ shoh-vuh-niz-uhm ]

noun

1. zealous and aggressive patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory.
2. biased devotion to any group, attitude, or cause:

   religious chauvinism.

3. the denigration, disparagement, and patronization of a particular gender based on the belief that one gender is inferior to another and thus deserving of less than equal treatment or benefit. Compare male chauvinism.

chauvinism

/ ˈʃəʊvɪˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. aggressive or fanatical patriotism; jingoism
2. enthusiastic devotion to a cause
3. smug irrational belief in the superiority of one's own race, party, sex, etc

   male chauvinism

chauvinism

1. Exaggerated belief in the supremacy of one's nation, class , caste , or group. Chauvinism usually involves xenophobia .

Notes

The word chauvinism is often used as shorthand for “male chauvinism,” a term describing the attitudes of men who believe that women are inferior and should not be given equal status with men. ( See also feminism (see also feminism ).)

Derived Forms

• ˌchauvinˈistic, adjective
• ˈchauvinist, noun
• ˌchauvinˈistically, adverb

Other Words From

• chauvin·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chauvinism¹

First recorded in 1865–70; from French chauvinisme, equivalent to chauvin “jingo” (named after N. Chauvin, a soldier in Napoleon's army noted for loud-mouthed patriotism) + -isme -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of chauvinism¹

C19: from French chauvinisme, after Nicolas Chauvin, legendary French soldier under Napoleon, noted for his vociferous and unthinking patriotism

Example Sentences

We will give up and stop any manifestations of chauvinism and xenophobia.

From The Daily Beast

Let's hope that that the increased presence of women in the new Knesset will help free us from that chauvinism once and for all.

From The Daily Beast

But the "Zoabiz" was a small reminder that latent chauvinism is alive and well.

From The Daily Beast

I became a feminist in the 1970s because I did not appreciate male chauvinism.

From The Daily Beast

But the proper corrective to chauvinism is not to reverse it and practice it against males, but rather basic fairness.

From The Daily Beast

They furnished a vivid but rather aggravating explanation for the existing backwardness and chauvinism of the commonwealth.

From Project Gutenberg

Our one desire was to get back to America, and we regarded Europe with the most ignorant chauvinism and contempt.

From Project Gutenberg

He never stooped to pietistic clap-trap, or chanted the jaunty chauvinism that has so often caused the Hoosier stars to blink.

From Project Gutenberg

The old dregs of Chauvinism, stirred by the Bonapartists, discharge their muddy waters.

From Project Gutenberg

In Japan, opinion ranged from imperialistic chauvinism to liberal recognition of the consortium as a way out of the mess.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fanaticism
• jingoism
• nationalism