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

“I was concerned that, as first written, Hank wore his chauvinism on his sleeve, was a little one-note and not very nuanced. She took my ideas to make the character sing. I might say something like, ‘I don’t think Hank left his wife or she died; I think that she left him.’

From Los Angeles Times

Mexico still has a famously intense “machismo,” or culture of male chauvinism, that has created large economic and social disparities in society.

From Seattle Times

A former Orange County Fire Authority spokeswoman who accused the agency of rampant male chauvinism and systematic gender-based harassment has settled her lawsuit for $580,000.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. Tate, who regularly uses various platforms to broadcast his virulent brand of male chauvinism, posted on social media Tuesday morning, “The Matrix is afraid, but I only fear God.”

From New York Times

Mexico still has famously intense “machismo” or male chauvinism, expressed in its most extreme form in a high rate of femicides, but also daily in hundreds of more subtle ways.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• fanaticism
• jingoism
• nationalism