Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person displaying excessive or aggressive patriotism: A chauvinist is someone who has an extreme, often militant, belief in the superiority and dominance of their own nation, often accompanied by contempt for other countries.
   • A person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of their own group: More broadly, a chauvinist is someone who holds an unreasoned and biased conviction that their own sex, race, or other social group is inherently superior to others.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Nationalistic):

  • The politician was accused of being a chauvinist for his constant disparagement of foreign allies.
  • His chauvinist rhetoric fueled tensions between the two countries.

• Noun (Sex/Gender):

  • He was a male chauvinist who believed women were not suited for leadership roles.
  • Her comments exposed her as a chauvinist who thought her cultural background was inherently superior.

Advanced Usage

• "Male chauvinist": A specific and common term for a man who believes men are superior to women.

  • The company's old-fashioned policies were shaped by male chauvinists.

• "Great-power chauvinism": A term used in political discourse to describe the aggressive nationalism of a dominant state.

  • The historian wrote about the dangers of great-power chauvinism in international relations.

Variants and Related Words

• Chauvinism (n): The ideology or behavior characteristic of a chauvinist.

  • His speech was full of national chauvinism.
  • We must fight against all forms of chauvinism in society.

• Chauvinistic (adj): Having the qualities of a chauvinist.

  • His chauvinistic attitudes made him unpopular with his colleagues.

Synonyms

• Jingoist: A person who favors an aggressive, warlike foreign policy (similar to nationalistic chauvinist).
• Bigot: A person who is obstinately devoted to their own opinions and prejudices, especially regarding race or religion.
• Sexist: A person with prejudice or discrimination based on sex (specifically for male/female chauvinism).

Related Phrases

• "To be accused of chauvinism": To be charged with holding prejudiced, superior beliefs about one's own group.
  • The general was accused of chauvinism for his dismissive comments about the enemy's capabilities.

Related Idioms

• "Chauvinist pig": A strong, derogatory idiom, primarily used to describe an extreme and obnoxious male chauvinist.
  • She called her boss a chauvinist pig after he made a sexist remark.

Noun

1. an extreme bellicose nationalist
2. a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind