antinationalism
|an-ti-na-tion-al-ism|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tiˈnæʃ.ə.nəl.ɪ.zəm/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tɪˈnæʃ.ə.nəl.ɪ.zəm/
opposition to nationalism
Etymology
'antinationalism' originates from the Greek prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' combined with the word 'nationalism.' 'Anti-' comes from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against', and 'nationalism' is built from 'nation' plus the suffix '-ism'.
'antinationalism' was formed in modern English by prefixing 'anti-' to 'nationalism' (a 19th-century formation from 'nation' + '-al' + '-ism'), creating a compound that literally means 'against nationalism'.
Initially it simply meant 'opposed to nationalism' in a literal sense; over time it has been used both as a political label for movements or ideologies opposing nationalist policies and more broadly to describe cultural or personal opposition to nationalistic attitudes.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
opposition to nationalism as a political ideology or policy; the belief that national loyalty and nationalistic policies are harmful or should be rejected.
Antinationalism emerged among certain intellectuals who criticized the exclusionary politics of the time.
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Noun 2
a general attitude or disposition against expressions of national identity or patriotism (more cultural or social than strictly political).
Her antinationalism meant she avoided national symbols and public displays of patriotism.
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Last updated: 2025/09/04 22:04