parochial
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or financially supported by one or more church parishes.
parochial churches in Great Britain.
-
of or relating to parochial schools or the education they provide.
-
very limited or narrow in scope or outlook; provincial.
parochial views; a parochial mentality.
adjective
-
narrow in outlook or scope; provincial
-
of or relating to a parish or parishes
Other Word Forms
- interparochial adjective
- interparochially adverb
- interparochialness noun
- nonparochial adjective
- nonparochially adverb
- parochialism noun
- parochiality noun
- parochially adverb
- parochialness noun
- semiparochial adjective
- unparochial adjective
- unparochially adverb
Etymology
Origin of parochial
1350–1400; late Middle English parochialle < Late Latin parochiālis ( parish, -al 1 ); replacing Middle English parochiele < Anglo-French parochiel < Late Latin as above
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We have been able to build and maintain global alliances because other countries trusted that they were dealing with a nation that was not simply driven by its own parochial interests and bottom line.
From Salon
He called the party "parochial, not political" and described them as a "party without a vision".
From BBC
Moments later, he says that “it’s the defense of universal values that will hold the country together, and the emphasis on parochial or group values that will break it apart inevitably.”
“The parents who have the means will leave for private and parochial schools,” she said.
Orange County’s new sophistication ought to be above rivalry, but a touch of parochial defensiveness remains.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
