Patriot Meaning
/ˈpeɪ.tɹi.ət/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA person who loves and zealously supports and defends their country.
nounA fellow countryman, a compatriot.
Sentence Examples
No man can be a patriot on an empty stomach.
An immense monument was erected in honor of the noble patriot.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
A true ____ always supports his country even during very hard times.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He was considered a true ____ who had sacrificed his personal comfort for the good of his country.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French patriote, from Late Latin patriōta (“fellow countryman”) from the Ancient Greek πατριώτης (patriṓtēs, “of the same country”), from πατρίς (patrís, “father land", "country”), from πατήρ (patḗr, “father”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Here Tears ſhall flovv from a more gen'rous Cauſe, / Such Tears as Patriots ſhed for dying Lavvs: […]"
— 1712 (date written), [Alexander] Pope, “Prologue, by Mr. Pope. Spoken by Mr. [Robert] Wilks.”, in [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC:
"'My country, right or wrong,' is a thing that no patriot would think of saying except in a desperate case. It is like saying, 'My mother, drunk or sober.'"
— 1901, G[ilbert] K[eith] Chesterton, “A Defence of Patriotism”, in The Defendant, London: R. Brimley Johnson, →OCLC, page 125:
"The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does; the first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the second a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war."
— 1953, Sydney J. Harris, “Purely Personal Prejudices”, in Strictly Personal, Regnery, page 228:
"Good thing there are loads of courageous anti-tax patriots (like Michelle Malkin!) willing to organize teabaggy protests designed to bring about a brave new world without bailouts, welfare, wars, or red tape […]"
— 2009 April 10, Michael Hogan, “The Government Would Suck at Throwing a Tea Party”, in Vanity Fair, archived from the original on 13 Apr 2016:
"Nothing beats a gunboat. HMS Illustrious glided out of Portsmouth on Monday, past HMS Victory and cheering crowds of patriots. Within a week it will be off Gibraltar, a mere cannon shot from Cape Trafalgar."
— 2013 August 14, Simon Jenkins, “Gibraltar and the Falklands deny the logic of history”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 22 Apr 2021:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
A true ____ always supports his country even during very hard times.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He was considered a true ____ who had sacrificed his personal comfort for the good of his country.