patriotic

Etymology

It is partly borrowed from French patriotique, recorded once in Middle French in 1532, and partly a derivative from English patriot + -ic.^[2][3][4] The French word continues Late Latin patriōticus (“of one's country”), recorded from the 6th century,^[2][5] from Ancient Greek πατριωτικός (patriōtikós, “of a fellow countryman”), from πατριώτης (patriṓtēs, “fellow countryman”).^[2][3][6] That noun, the source of patriot, is formed on πάτριος (pátrios, “of one's fathers”), from πατήρ (patḗr, “father”), which is related to father.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of or belonging to one's country: 1653, in Thomas Urquhart's translation of Rabelais, rendering the French word of the original; this sense is rare and obsolete.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

After its first, isolated use the word was formed again in English from patriot.^[2] The current sense, having the character of a patriot and devoted to the good of one's country, is recorded from 1737, in a poem title by Hildebrand Jacob,^[2] and Etymonline dates it to 1757;^[3] in French the corresponding sense is recorded from 1750.^[2] From 1933 it was used in the names of nationalist political organizations, such as a patriotic front.^[2][5] The plural noun patriotics, patriotic speeches or feelings, is recorded from 1899.^[2]

Timeline

• 1532 – Middle French patriotique, in a single example.^[2]
• 1648 – Merriam-Webster's first date.^[4]
• 1653 – of one's country (obsolete).^[2]
• 1737 – devoted to the good of one's country.^[2]
• 1899 – plural noun, patriotic utterances.^[2]
• 1933 – in the names of nationalist organizations.^[2]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Feeling, showing or inspired by love of and loyalty to one's country; characteristic of a patriot: a rousing patriotic song.

Word family

• patriotically
• antipatriotic
• hyperpatriotic
• overpatriotic
• pseudopatriotic
• semipatriotic
• ultrapatriotic

Related words

• patriot
• patriotism
• compatriot
• paternal
• patron

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
6. ^ Stevenson, Angus, ed. (2010), Oxford Dictionary of English, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press