insularity

American  

[in-suh--lar-i-tee, ins-yuh-] / ˌɪn sə ˈlær ɪ ti, ˈɪns yə- /

noun

1. the state or condition of being an island.

   Great Britain, because of its insularity, was only reachable by sea until 1785, when the first balloon successfully crossed the English Channel by air.

2. the state or condition of dwelling on or being situated on an island.

   None of the other aspects of the fossil show adaptations common among island dwellers, so insularity is not a good argument to explain its form.

3. the state or condition of being detached or isolated.

   Growing populations have in many places made the insularity of religious communities difficult to preserve.

4. the state or condition of being narrow-minded or provincial.

   Our neighbors' insularity was both psychological and cultural: they had no interest whatsoever in literature, history, art, government, science, film, or the outdoors.

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Etymology

Origin of insularity

insular ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Explanation

The noun insularity refers to the quality of being isolated or detached. In fact, the word is based on the Latin word insula, for "island." The phrase "no man is an island" means that no one can be completely separate from others. The word insularity has a sense of detachment and insulation, but sometimes the meaning is extended to mean being narrow-minded. Parents always try to protect their kids from harm, but sometimes their insularity goes too far. If you grew up in the 1950s, for example, your parents may have wanted to protect you from the evils of Elvis and rock and roll.

Example Sentences

Despite their insularity, Thompson’s works offer a reportorial curiosity of the world and a generosity toward working people.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

"Such wanton destruction of the German cultural scene, such self-inflicted insularity, must not be allowed to happen," it said.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

Canada, alas, does not enjoy the same insularity from the U.S. economy.

From Slate • Aug. 1, 2025

This reflected "the same management insularity and tolerance of bad practice identified in the review", she told the Senedd.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2024

But Shakespeare had been before both in these expressions of gratitude for our insularity.

From By-ways in Book-land Short Essays on Literary Subjects by Adams, William Davenport