What does jingo mean?
Jingo is an unusual word with both an exclamatory and a political use. In the familiar expression “by jingo!”, it expresses surprise, amazement, or forceful emphasis and is often presented as a mock oath. Its interjectional use is now somewhat dated, so modern speakers may employ it for comic effect or to convey heightened emotion. The noun is older in a political sense and refers to a person regarded as aggressively patriotic, especially someone who regards their own nation as superior and is dismissive or hostile toward other countries. Such a person may be called a jingoist, and the associated attitude is jingoism. The political sense is overwhelmingly negative in modern English: describing someone as a jingo criticizes nationalism understood as intolerant or belligerent. Although the two senses sound unrelated, both are connected with the word’s history as an emphatic oath and its subsequent association with intense national feeling.
An exclamation of surprise, emphasis, or determination, normally encountered in the phrase “by jingo!”.
"By jingo, we shall have to start the entire journey again."
Now mainly familiar, archaic-sounding, or humorous; it can suggest an old-fashioned oath.
A person regarded as aggressively patriotic or as intolerantly hostile toward foreign countries and peoples.
"The politician dismissed accusations that he was merely a jingo."
The sense is chiefly historical or pejorative; “jingoist” is generally the more usual modern noun.
The plural is grammatically possible but uncommon; “jingoists” is normally preferred when referring to multiple people with this attitude.
"The newspaper portrayed the protesters as jingos, though some rejected that description."
“By jingo!” began as a colorful oath, but the same word later became a label for extreme nationalism.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jingo come from?
Jingo emerged in the early 19th century and is probably an alteration of “ginger,” which had been used in expressions such as “by ginger!” to give force to an oath or declaration. The shortened form became part of the exclamation “by jingo!” and was also applied to people who expressed intense patriotism, giving rise to “jingoist” and “jingoism.” Its precise development is not entirely certain, but it was established in English before the political meaning became dominant.
Related word forms
How jingo is actually used
The interjection is now chiefly familiar or deliberately archaic, and it may sound comic, theatrical, or emphatic rather than genuinely oath-like. The noun meaning “jingoist” is less common than the related noun “jingoist” and generally carries a strongly critical connotation.
Easily confused with jingo
Jingo is a person, whereas jingoism is the chauvinistic attitude or behaviour associated with such a person.