What does chauvinist mean?
A chauvinist is a person marked by extravagant, unreasoning loyalty to a group or cause — historically, an aggressively patriotic one who considers his own nation superior to all others. The term derives from the name of Nicolas Chauvin, a legendary soldier of Napoleon's era whose over-the-top devotion to France became proverbial in French theater and gave rise to the word 'chauvinism'. In contemporary English, however, the word is used at least as often in its extended sense: a 'male chauvinist' is a man who treats women as inherently inferior, a usage that became widespread during the feminist movements of the 1960s and 1970s. Whether applied to nationalistic zeal or sexist attitudes, 'chauvinist' always implies prejudice sustained by blindness to evidence — loyalty that has hardened into bigotry. It is a pejorative term, used to criticize rather than describe neutrally, and remains a sharp, evocative way to condemn both jingoism and sexism in public discourse.
nounA person who displays aggressive, exaggerated patriotism or blind devotion to a group or cause, especially their own country; in modern usage, often a man who believes men are superior to women.
- A person with excessive, belligerent patriotism or uncritical devotion to a group or cause.
- (chiefly as 'male chauvinist') A man who regards women as inferior to men.
"A true chauvinist, he dismissed every foreign idea as inferior without even hearing it."
"Critics accused the senator of being a chauvinist who saw diplomacy as weakness."
"In the 1970s, workplace debates made 'male chauvinist' a household phrase."
Standard regular plural; used when referring to multiple people holding such attitudes.
"The editorial condemned the chauvinists who dismissed any international cooperation as betrayal."
The word comes from Nicolas Chauvin, a legendary French soldier so fanatically devoted to Napoleon that his name became a byword for blind loyalty.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chauvinist
Chauvinist comes from the name of Nicolas Chauvin, a semi-legendary veteran of Napoleon's armies celebrated in early nineteenth-century French vaudeville for his absurdly excessive devotion to the emperor and to France. His name entered French as 'chauvinisme' and was borrowed into English by the mid-nineteenth century, first in reference to bellicose patriotism. Later derivatives such as 'chauvinistic' and the compound 'male chauvinist' extended the word from national pride to other forms of bigoted group loyalty.
Related word forms
How chauvinist is actually used
Originally the word referred almost exclusively to extreme nationalism, but since the mid-20th century it has most often appeared in the compound 'male chauvinist', denoting sexism. The term carries a strongly negative connotation and is typically used in criticism rather than self-description.
Easily confused with chauvinist
Chauvinism is the attitude or ideology itself, while a chauvinist is the person who holds it.