parochialism

noun

pa·​ro·​chi·​al·​ism pə-ˈrō-kē-ə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce parochialism (audio)
: the quality or state of being parochial
especially : selfish pettiness or narrowness (as of interests, opinions, or views)

Examples of parochialism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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British parochialism finds echoes on the other side of the Channel, where European leaders, as a group, failed to sell the European way of life to their people. Camille Pecastaing, Foreign Affairs, 13 July 2016 But his critics on the left, many of them of color, have long pointed out these very blind spots in his work—the parochialism of his politics and his reticence where Muslim, and particularly Palestinian, death and suffering were concerned. Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024 Europe’s parochialism and military weakness may make the region a poor partner for the United States in global affairs, but the continent itself is no longer a security problem, which is a huge advance on the past. Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2014 Given the scale of the devastation wrought by the parochialism of union officials like Jordan, the fact that this tactic just isn’t working anymore is cold comfort. The Editors, National Review, 20 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for parochialism 

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of parochialism was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near parochialism

Cite this Entry

“Parochialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parochialism. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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