patriot

[ pey-tree-uh t, -ot or, esp. British, pa-tree-uh t ]
/ ˈpeɪ tri ət, -ˌɒt or, esp. British, ˈpæ tri ət /

noun

a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion.
a person who regards himself or herself as a defender, especially of individual rights, against presumed interference by the federal government.
(initial capital letter) Military. a U.S. Army antiaircraft missile with a range of 37 miles (60 km) and a 200-pound (90 kg) warhead, launched from a tracked vehicle with radar and computer guidance and fire control.

Origin of patriot

1590–1600; < Middle French patriote < Late Latin patriōta < Greek patriṓtēs fellow-countryman, lineage member

OTHER WORDS FROM patriot

an·ti·pa·tri·ot, noun sem·i·pa·tri·ot, noun

Example sentences from the Web for patriot

British Dictionary definitions for patriot (1 of 2)

patriot
/ (ˈpeɪtrɪət, ˈpæt-) /

noun

a person who vigorously supports his country and its way of life

Derived forms of patriot

patriotic (ˌpætrɪˈɒtɪk), adjective patriotically, adverb

Word Origin for patriot

C16: via French from Late Latin patriōta, from Greek patriotēs, from patris native land; related to Greek patēr father; compare Latin pater father, patria fatherland

British Dictionary definitions for patriot (2 of 2)

Patriot
/ (ˈpeɪtrɪət) /

noun

a US surface-to-air missile system with multiple launch stations and the capability to track multiple targets by radar