na·tion·al·ist
ˈna-sh(ə-)nə-list 
plural nationalists
: an advocate of or believer in nationalism: such as
a
: a member of a political party or group advocating a government that is strongly committed to nationalism (see nationalism sense 1)
Nationalists in the United States and elsewhere advocate wide-ranging government control of the economy, most notably in the form of industrial policy, protectionism, and immigration restrictionism.—
Alex Nowrasteh and Ilya Somin
Alex Nowrasteh and Ilya Somin
b
: a member of a political party or group advocating national independence
An independent Wales, nationalists point out, would still be larger than 39 other self-sufficient nations …—Peter Stuart
Peter Stuart1
: of, relating to, or advocating nationalism
After independence, nationalist fervor rejected compulsory English instruction in favor of the national language, Pilipino, which is based on Tagalog, a tongue spoken by the population around Manila.—Edwin Kiester, Jr. and Sally Valente Kiester
Edwin Kiester, Jr. and Sally Valente Kiester2
sometimes Nationalist
: of or constituting a political group or party advocating or associated with nationalism
the group's nationalist agenda
… the strength of the Nationalist vote greatly inhibits the possibility of a majority Labour government …—Brian Wilson
—often used in the capitalized names of specific groupsBrian Wilsona member of the Irish Nationalist Party
Synonyms
Examples of nationalist in a Sentence
Noun
a staunch nationalist who favored any policy that would give the country more power in the international arena
Adjective
The country's Nationalist Party won the election.
most of the articles on the website are nationalist propaganda and not objective by any means
Recent Examples on the Web
Daniel Block, The Atlantic, 30 Nov. 2024
For years, Hindu nationalists aligned with India’s current government have been reluctant to accept research findings that indicate ancient migrants from the Eurasian Steppe, which stretches from China to central Europe, played a key role in the development of Indian society.
—Byvaishnavi Chandrashekhar, science.org, 4 Nov. 2024
Stephen McGrath, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2024
Adani is a close ally of Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was at one point the world’s second-richest man, and critics have long accused him of improperly benefitting from their relationship.
—Afp, Fortune Asia, 27 Nov. 2024
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Noun
Many Hindu nationalists want to create Akhand Bharat: a greater India encompassing all or parts of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tibet.
—Daniel Block, The Atlantic, 30 Nov. 2024
For years, Hindu nationalists aligned with India’s current government have been reluctant to accept research findings that indicate ancient migrants from the Eurasian Steppe, which stretches from China to central Europe, played a key role in the development of Indian society.
—Byvaishnavi Chandrashekhar, science.org, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Two smaller far-right nationalist parties also got enough votes to enter parliament.
—Stephen McGrath, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2024
Adani is a close ally of Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was at one point the world’s second-richest man, and critics have long accused him of improperly benefitting from their relationship.
—Afp, Fortune Asia, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nationalist
Dictionary Entries Near nationalist
Cite this Entry
“Nationalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalist. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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