parochialism

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /pəˈroʊ.ki.ə.lɪ.zəm/ UK /pəˈrəʊ.ki.ə.lɪ.zəm/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a narrow outlook limited to local concerns or one's own group, with little interest in wider issues or perspectives

Studying abroad helped her recognize the parochialism of the debate at home.
2

noun
excessive concern for the interests of a particular locality, institution, discipline, or nation

Regional parochialism prevented the councils from cooperating on transport.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a narrow outlook limited to... narrow-mindednessinsularity provincialism

2 noun · excessive concern for the... localismsectionalisminwardness

Opposites

cosmopolitanism open-mindedness internationalism

Word family

Derived forms parochialistparochialistic

Related forms parochial parish provincialism insularity

Etymology

Formed from parochial + -ism. Parochial first meant "of a parish," through Late Latin parochialis from Greek paroikia ("sojourning, community"). The figurative sense treats a parish-sized field of concern as a metaphor for an excessively narrow outlook.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# parochialism

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /pəˈroʊ.ki.ə.lɪ.zəm/
**IPA (UK):** /pəˈrəʊ.ki.ə.lɪ.zəm/

## Meanings
1. a narrow outlook limited to local concerns or one's own group, with little interest in wider issues or perspectives
2. excessive concern for the interests of a particular locality, institution, discipline, or nation

## Examples
- Studying abroad helped her recognize the parochialism of the debate at home.
- Regional parochialism prevented the councils from cooperating on transport.

## Synonyms
- narrow-mindedness
- insularity
- provincialism
- localism

## Antonyms
- cosmopolitanism
- open-mindedness
- internationalism

## Derived Forms
- parochialist
- parochialistic

## Related Forms
- parochial
- parish
- provincialism
- insularity

## Etymology
Formed from parochial + -ism. Parochial first meant "of a parish," through Late Latin parochialis from Greek paroikia ("sojourning, community"). The figurative sense treats a parish-sized field of concern as a metaphor for an excessively narrow outlook.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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