What does chauvinistic mean?
"Chauvinistic" is an adjective describing an exaggerated, belligerent devotion to one's own country, group, or cause, usually paired with contempt for outsiders. Its original sense was narrowly nationalistic — a chauvinistic person believes their nation is superior and dismisses foreign ideas out of hand. Over the twentieth century, especially via the phrase "male chauvinism," the meaning expanded to include prejudiced belief in the superiority of one's own group, most commonly male prejudice against women. The term derives from the name of Nicolas Chauvin, a legendary French soldier celebrated for his fanatical loyalty to Napoleon. Today it is always pejorative and stronger than mere patriotism; calling someone chauvinistic implies not just pride but irrational bias and hostility toward those outside the favored group. It appears frequently in political commentary, social criticism, and discussions of workplace discrimination.
adjectiveExhibiting excessive, aggressive patriotism or blind devotion to one's own country, group, or cause; by extension, displaying prejudiced belief in the superiority of one's own group, especially men over women.
- Exhibiting excessive or aggressive patriotism and blind devotion to one's own country.
- Displaying prejudiced belief in the superiority of one's own group, especially male prejudice against women (as in "male chauvinism").
"His chauvinistic refusal to consider any foreign idea made the negotiations nearly impossible."
"The senator's chauvinistic speeches dismissed every foreign solution as unworthy of consideration."
"She left the company after tiring of its chauvinistic culture, where women were routinely passed over for promotion."
The word comes from Nicolas Chauvin, a possibly fictional French soldier so absurdly devoted to Napoleon that his name became a global synonym for blind fanaticism — and later, for sexism.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chauvinistic
The word traces to Nicolas Chauvin, a French soldier of the Napoleonic era famed (perhaps apocryphally) for his extravagant, unreasoning devotion to Napoleon and France; his name gave rise to French "chauvinisme" in the nineteenth century. English borrowed "chauvinism" shortly afterward, and the adjective "chauvinistic" followed as the concept spread. In the late twentieth century, the related phrase "male chauvinism" extended the term from nationalism to sexism, cementing its modern double sense.
Related word forms
How chauvinistic is actually used
Originally used almost exclusively for extreme nationalism, the word broadened through the phrase "male chauvinism" to cover sexism and other forms of group prejudice. It carries a strongly negative connotation in all registers and is more forceful than "nationalistic" or "traditional."
Easily confused with chauvinistic
"Chauvinist" is the noun for a person who holds chauvinistic views, while "chauvinistic" is the adjective describing those views or behavior.
"Patriotic" describes reasonable love of one's country; "chauvinistic" implies excessive, belligerent devotion combined with contempt for others.