Patriot

The word patriot fundamentally denotes an individual who exhibits patriotism, demonstrating loyalty and devotion to their country. Beyond this primary definition, the term has been adopted widely across political, cultural, commercial and entertainment contexts. Its use spans historical movements, modern organisations, artistic works, sporting identities and technological products, illustrating the broad symbolic power associated with patriotic imagery and national allegiance.
Across regions and periods, “Patriot” or “The Patriots” has been used to identify political groups advocating independence, cultural identity or resistance. In artistic media, the term titles films, books and plays exploring themes of loyalty, conflict or national struggle. Businesses, sports teams and vehicles employ the name to evoke strength, resilience or collective identity. The diversity of these uses reflects the enduring cultural resonance of patriotism as a concept.

Political and Military Associations

The term has been employed frequently in political and military contexts, often linked to independence movements, ideological factions or armed resistance.
United States

• Supporters of American independence during the American Revolution were commonly known as Patriots.
• The term has been used for small-government or anti-government conservative movements within the United States.
• It has also been associated with certain far-right conservative movements.

International Uses

• A Russian private military and security company uses the name “Patriot”.
• The Dutch Patriot faction of the 18th century advocated political reform in the Netherlands.
• Ethiopian resistance fighters (1939–1941), referred to as patriots, opposed the Italian occupation.
• Supporters of South American independence between 1808 and 1833 were often labelled patriots.
• A French Eurosceptic political party has used the title.
• In Québec, the Patriotes movement played a prominent role in the Canadian Rebellions of 1836–1841.
• A Kurdish regional political party uses the term.
• A parliamentary group within the European Parliament has adopted the name.

These diverse uses illustrate the strong association of the term with political autonomy, reform and national identity.

Representations in Film

Numerous films across different decades and countries carry the title Patriot or The Patriots, ranging from historical dramas to action films:

• A biographical film about Paul I of Russia.
• The Patriots (1933), directed by Boris Barnet.
• A German film titled The Patriot.
• A French historical drama also known as The Patriot.
• An Iranian drama film.
• Action films directed by Frank Harris and Frank Kerr.
• A 1994 French production starring Yvan Attal.
• A Steven Seagal action film.
• The 2000 film The Patriot featuring Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger.
• A Patriot, a cancelled 2020 film project starring Eva Green.

These works typically explore themes of loyalty, conflict or national struggle.

Television References

The term appears across television series in various forms:

• Patriot (2015), an Amazon series blending espionage and dark comedy.
• The Patriots (1962), an Australian miniseries.
• “The Patriot”, an episode from season four of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..

These examples reflect the common interplay between patriotism and dramatic storytelling.

Newspapers and Periodicals

Several newspapers incorporate the name “Patriot”, emphasising editorial themes of civic duty or regional identity:

• California Patriot, a conservative student publication at the University of California, Berkeley.
• The Lebanon Patriot, formerly published in Lebanon, Ohio.
• The Patriot Ledger, serving the Massachusetts South Shore.
• The Patriot-News, covering the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area.
• The Patriot, published by the South Australian Temperance Alliance.

Literary Works

The term appears across genres of literature:

• The Patriot (1939), a novel by Pearl S. Buck.
• Patriot: A Memoir (2024), the posthumous memoir of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny.
• Patriots, a novel by James Wesley Rawles.

These works vary from political commentary to fictional storytelling.

Theatre and Dramatic Works

The name features prominently in stage productions:

• The Patriot (1702), a play by Charles Gildon.
• The Patriot (1943), a play by Sidney Kingsley.
• A 2022 play by Peter Morgan, exploring themes of political ideology and personal loyalty.

Other Media Uses

Other creative and digital media also employ the term:

• Patriot comic book characters.
• Patriot, a 1993 strategic game centred on the Gulf War.
• A 1991 compilation titled Patriot.
• A 2010 album titled Patriot.
• A conservative satellite radio network branded with the name.

Commercial and Corporate Uses

Companies adopting the name typically aim to convey reliability or national strength:

• A coal-mining company headquartered in St Louis, Missouri.
• A Silicon Valley firm producing memory and computer accessories.
• A short-line railroad company in the United States.

Geographical Uses

Several locations carry the name “Patriot”:

• Towns in the United States named Patriot.
• Patriot Place, a commercial and entertainment district adjacent to Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.

Sporting Uses

The term is widespread in sporting culture, often symbolising teamwork, national pride or physical strength.
Professional Wrestling

• The ring name “The Patriot” used by Del Wilkes (1961–2021) and later by another wrestler born in 1966.
• Doug Gilbert, an American wrestler born in 1969, also used the name.
• The Patriots, a tag team composed of Firebreaker Chip and Todd Champion.

Teams

• The Texas Patriots (USL Premier Development League).
• A National Basketball Development League team based in North Carolina.
• George Mason University’s athletic teams, known as the Patriots.
• The nickname of certain national basketball teams.
• The New England Patriots of the National Football League.
• The Alabama Patriots baseball team.
• The Somerset Patriots, a minor league baseball team.
• A civilian aerobatic formation team called The Patriots Jet Team.
• Patriotas Boyacá, a Colombian football club.
• Patriot Candrabhaga, an Indonesian football club.

Other Sporting Uses

• The Patriot League, a collegiate athletic conference in the northeastern United States.
• Patriot Stadium in El Paso, Texas.
• Patriot Chandrabhaga Stadium in Indonesia.

Vehicles

A number of vehicles across military, civilian and industrial contexts bear the name:

• The Patriot fireboat operated in Tampa, Florida.
• A US Navy mine countermeasures ship launched in 1990.
• The British Patriot class of express passenger steam locomotives.
• The Jeep Patriot, a compact SUV by Fiat-Chrysler.
• The UAZ Patriot, a mid-sized SUV manufactured in Russia.

Additional Uses

The term also characterises notable technological and entertainment features:

• The Patriot missile system, a widely recognised surface-to-air defence system.
• Roller coasters named Patriot in various amusement parks.