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jingoism

Etymology and origin of the English word jingoism

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈd͡ʒɪŋɡəʊɪz(ə)m/ (UK)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from jingo “a belligerent patriot” and -ism.[2][3] Jingo comes from the oath by Jingo in the refrain of a music-hall song of 1878 written by G. W. Hunt:[2][4][5] “We don't want to fight, but by Jingo! if we do, We've got the ships, we've got the men, We've got the money too.”[2] The oath itself (1694) is probably a euphemism for by Jesus,[4][6][5] perhaps influenced by a conjurer's call hey jingo (1660s).[6][3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The policy or practices of the jingoes (1878).[7][2][5]

Semantic evolution

In 1878 Britain was in a crisis with Russia, and the song became the anthem of supporters of Disraeli's policy of sending a fleet into Turkish waters.[6][2][3] The Daily News mockingly dubbed them Jingoes in March 1878,[2] and jingoism followed in the same year.[7][2][5] The word now means any loud, aggressive nationalism, especially in foreign policy.[4][5][3]

Timeline

  • 1660s – hey jingo, a conjurer's call.[2][3]
  • 1694 – by jingo, an oath.[6][5]
  • 1878 – jingo, a supporter of a warlike policy.[2][5]
  • 1878 – jingoism.[7][2][5]
  • 1884 – jingoist, jingoistic.[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. Extreme, aggressive nationalism, especially in favour of a warlike foreign policy; chauvinistic patriotism.

Word family

  • jingoist
  • jingoistic
  • jingoistically
  • jingoish
  • jingo
  • chauvinism
  • flag-waving

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d e Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  4. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  7. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Jingoism.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/jingoism. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·