Skip to main content
provincialism

provincialism

1 9.3
A strong focus on local customs and a dislike of outside ideas
  • noun
  • /prəˈvɪnʃəˌlɪzəm/
translation icon : provincialismo
  • If most intellectuals disdain the provincialism and vulgarity of the vernacular, others have on occasion found much to admire.
  • intellectual provincialism

There's no nothing specifically more correct about globalism than there is about provincialism.

Examples

  • The provincialism in his views made it difficult for him to appreciate different cultures.

  • In literature, America meant provincialism; London, the great world.

    Academic text (2010)
  • The consequences of this historical provincialism are all too evident, she urges.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Finally, by their broad coverage, the press associations chipped away at provincialism.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The result is an intellectual provincialism that has marginalized historians in the name of professionalism.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Like most aspects of our lives, our web surfing habits suffer from naive provincialism.

    Blog text (19)
  • Many Protestants were tiring of provincialism; their churches were breaking out of sectarian isolation.

    Academic text (2014)
  • Many young people are trying to overcome the provincialism of their hometowns and explore the world.

  • While her provincialism shaped her preferences, she was eager to learn about other lifestyles.

Synonyms

narrow-mindedness
vsprovincialism
2 7.4

Not willing to accept opinions or ways that are different from your own

adds an excessive focus on regional customs and culture rather than general intolerance
insularity
vsprovincialism
2 9.4

Being separate from other places and having a narrow view of the world

focuses on local customs and lack of openness rather than physical isolation
parochialism
vsprovincialism
1 9.6

A narrow way of thinking that focuses on local issues

emphasizes regional customs and interests rather than only small local concerns
narrowness
vsprovincialism
1 6.5

Unwillingness to accept ideas or people different from your own

adds a regional emphasis and concern with local customs beyond mere intolerance
ethnocentricity
vsprovincialism
  • Offensive
1 9.8

A belief that your own culture is better and used to judge other cultures

centers on local customs without claiming cultural superiority over others
particularism
vsprovincialism
  • Specialized
1 9.6

A focus on one person, group, or interest instead of the whole

is narrower in location stressing regional customs rather than case-by-case concerns
provinciality
vsprovincialism
9.3

A narrow view of the world that cares only about local matters

is the other common form used for the same idea
parochiality
vsprovincialism
9.0

A narrow way of thinking that focuses only on a small group

highlights regional customs more than only local group concerns
parochial attitude
vsprovincialism
8.0

A way of thinking that only cares about local matters and ignores wider issues

expresses focus on regional customs beyond just small local concerns
sectionalism
vsprovincialism
  • Formal
9.6

A strong loyalty to one region that harms the rest of the country

focuses more on local customs and closed attitudes than political self-interest
illiberalism
vsprovincialism
8.9

An attitude of not accepting different opinions or ways of life

is more about local habits and regionally limited openness than political ideology
insularism
vsprovincialism
9.9

A way of thinking that keeps a country apart and closed to outside ideas

emphasizes cultural and regional preference over mere geographic or physical isolation

Antonyms

35 3.9

Being willing to try or accept new ideas and experiences

cosmopolitanism
  • Specialized
1 8.2

The belief that all people belong to one world community and should accept other cultures

How Narrow-Minded

xenophobia
  • Offensive
13 8.9
parochialism
1 9.6
provincialism
1 9.3
insularity
2 9.4

Surface Forms

provincialism singular

Morphology

provincialism = provincial (transparent) = province + ial + ism

Standard formation: the adjective 'provincial' plus '-ism' yields a noun denoting an attitude or characteristic associated with being provincial.

Etymology

Provincialism starts with province, which means 'area' or 'region', and provincial means 'from that area'. Think of someone who only sees the world from their own town; provincialism is that narrow view of local life and not liking new or foreign ideas.