I. na ‧ tion ‧ al ‧ ist 1 /ˈnæʃ ə nələst, ˈnæʃ ə nəlɪst/ BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ nation , ↑ national , ↑ multinational , ↑ nationalism , ↑ nationalist , ↑ nationality , ↑ nationalization , ↑ nationhood , ↑ international , ↑ internationalism , ↑ internationalist , ↑ internationalization ; adjective : ↑ national , ↑ international , ↑ multinational , ↑ nationalist , ↑ nationalistic , nationalized, ↑ internationalist ; verb : ↑ nationalize , ↑ internationalize ; adverb : ↑ nationally , ↑ internationally ]
1 . a nationalist organization, party etc wants to gain or keep political independence for their country and people:
the Scottish Nationalist Party
the rise of the nationalist movement
2 . a nationalist organization or party believes that their country is the most important or the best
II. nationalist 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ nation , ↑ national , ↑ multinational , ↑ nationalism , ↑ nationalist , ↑ nationality , ↑ nationalization , ↑ nationhood , ↑ international , ↑ internationalism , ↑ internationalist , ↑ internationalization ; adjective : ↑ national , ↑ international , ↑ multinational , ↑ nationalist , ↑ nationalistic , nationalized, ↑ internationalist ; verb : ↑ nationalize , ↑ internationalize ; adverb : ↑ nationally , ↑ internationally ]
1 . someone who is involved in trying to gain or keep political independence for their country and people:
Welsh nationalists
2 . someone who believes their country is best ⇨ patriot