Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
chauvinism, chauvinist (nn.), chauvinistic (adj.)
Chauvinism is “fanatical, boastful, unreasoning patriotism” and by extension “prejudiced belief or unreasoning pride in any group to which you belong.” Lately, though, the compounds male chauvinism and male chauvinist have gained so much popularity that some users may no longer recall the patriotic and other more generalized meanings of the words. Use them sparingly and explicitly with their male referents, and be sure to have context make clear any other referent you might intend.
