insular
narrow-minded or illiberal; provincial: insular attitudes toward foreigners.
of or relating to an island or islands: a nation's insular possessions.
dwelling or situated on an island.
forming an island: insular rocks.
of, relating to, or characteristic of islanders or isolated people: insular tribes;insular sects.
Pathology. occurring in or characterized by one or more isolated spots, patches, or the like.
Anatomy. pertaining to an island of cells or tissue, as the islets of Langerhans.
an inhabitant of an island; islander.
Origin of insular
1Other words from insular
- in·su·lar·ism, noun
- in·su·lar·i·ty [in-suh-lar-i-tee, ins-yuh-] /ˌɪn sə ˈlær ɪ ti, ˈɪns yə-/ noun
- in·su·lar·ly, adverb
- in·ter·in·su·lar, adjective
- trans·in·su·lar, adjective
- un·in·su·lar, adjective
Words Nearby insular
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use insular in a sentence
The Pritzker transforms architects from being merely good practitioners in a fairly insular field into global celebrities.
But the sad reality is that the comics industry is too insular to foster any kind of radical change.
DC Comics’ Diversity Crisis: Why the Status Quo Rules | Liz Watson | July 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAll this observation and self-observation possibly says something very depressing about how insular and self-obsessing we are.
Doing so, he highlighted the degree to which creationism is a decidedly incurious, insular worldview.
The Bill Nye-Ken Ham Debate Was a Nightmare for Science | Michael Schulson | February 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Executive is elected in broad national elections in which discrete and insular minorities carry less weight.
Senate Democrats Just Took Us a Step Closer to the Imperial Presidency | David Frum | December 1, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
From this point of view, the superiority of the continental over the insular colonies was not to be doubted.
The Eve of the Revolution | Carl BeckerHorses and dresses are found in the insular forms, but, so far, I have not found a single instance of the tournament.
The Three Days' Tournament | Jessie L. WestonThe true causes of the depression were not within the control of the insular Government or of any ruling factor.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanOf the taxes accruing to the insular Treasury under the above law, 10 per cent.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanThe insular failing is elsewhere frequently displayed by the poet in the trying light cast from a misanthrope genius.
A Cursory History of Swearing | Julian Sharman
British Dictionary definitions for insular
/ (ˈɪnsjʊlə) /
of, relating to, or resembling an island
remote, detached, or aloof
illiberal or narrow-minded
isolated or separated
Origin of insular
1Derived forms of insular
- insularism or insularity (ˌɪnsjʊˈlærɪtɪ), noun
- insularly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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