parochialism
A limited or narrow outlook, especially focused on a local area; narrow-mindedness.
It suggests a lack of sophistication or a failure to understand the 'big picture' because one is too focused on their own small 'parish'.
Word relationships
- insularity: Insularity (from 'island') implies being cut off; parochialism implies being limited by local interests.
- provincialism: Provincialism suggests a lack of worldly experience; parochialism suggests a stubborn focus on local matters.
- cosmopolitanism: The ideology that all human beings belong to a single community, based on a shared morality.
Commonly confused with
- regionalism: Regionalism can be a positive pride in a region; parochialism is always a negative narrowness.
Word family
- parochial (adjective): Having a limited or narrow outlook or scope.
Collocations
- intellectual parochialism
- cultural parochialism
- overcome parochialism
Example sentences
- "The company's failure to expand internationally was blamed on the parochialism of its board members." Global Economics
- "Parochialism is the enemy of progress, as it refuses to look beyond the village walls." Social Criticism
Memory hook
Think of a 'parish'—a small church area. Parochialism is 'parish-ism'—thinking only about your small area. The person who thinks their small town is the center of the universe.
When not to use
Don't use it to describe someone who simply loves their home; it implies a negative narrowness that ignores the rest of the world.
Fun facts
- In the US, 'parochial schools' are private schools affiliated with a religious organization, usually Catholic.
Related words
Explore more words
sectarian, partisan, parsimonious, homogenization, cosmopolitan, narrowcast
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