Meaning

noun one who loves and defends his or her country

noun an advocate of national independence of or a strong national government

adjective devotion to the interests or culture of a particular nation including promoting the interests of one country over those of others

originEtymology tree English national Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek -ῐστής (-ĭstḗs)bor. Latin -istader. Old French -istebor. Middle English -ist English -ist English nationalist From national + -ist.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0