pa·tri·ot / ˈpātrēət/ • n. 1. a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.2. (Patriot) trademark an automated surface-to-air missile system designed for early detection and interception of missiles or aircraft. ∎  a missile deployed in this system.DERIVATIVES: pa·tri·ot·ism / -ˌtizəm/ n.

patriot †compatriot XVI; (orig., as in F., with commendatory adj.) one whose ruling passion is the love of his country XVII. — F. patriote — late L. patriōta — Gr. patriṓtēs, f. pátrios of one's fathers, patris fatherland, sb. use of adj. ‘ancestral’, f. patḗr, patr- FATHER; see -OT.
So patriotic XVII. — late L. — Gr. patriōtikós. patriotism XVIII.