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. )

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

It was, instead, evidence of their own insularity, incuriosity, and apparent inability to read the news or even google.

From Slate • Jan. 5, 2026

Tucked away in semirural settings away from the urban core, both communities, despite their dramatic demographic differences, share an insularity that engendered strong identities and also made them vulnerable.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2025

Let no one say that England's insularity means lack of adaptability.

From The Old Blood by Palmer, Frederick