parochial

[puh-roh-kee-uh l]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR parochial ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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.

Nearby words

Origin of parochial

1350–1400; late Middle English parochialle < Late Latin parochiālis (see parish, -al¹); replacing Middle English parochiele < Anglo-French parochiel < Late Latin as above

Related forms

pa·ro·chi·al·ly, adverbpa·ro·chi·al·ness, nounin·ter·pa·ro·chi·al, adjectivein·ter·pa·ro·chi·al·ly, adverb

in·ter·pa·ro·chi·al·ness, nounnon·pa·ro·chi·al, adjectivenon·pa·ro·chi·al·ly, adverbsem·i·pa·ro·chi·al, adjectiveun·pa·ro·chi·al, adjectiveun·pa·ro·chi·al·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for parochial

After years at the head of a parochial school classroom, he could no longer distinguish one blond Irish Catholic kid from another.
Obama’s One Hand Clap With Castro|Doug McIntyre|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One enduring lesson of the Holocaust is that antisemitism is not a parochial Jewish interest.
Violence Erupts When You Tolerate Antisemitism|Dr. Charles Asher Small|April 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My bias is that Congress tends to be parochial, irresponsible, and self-interested.
Senate Democrats Just Took Us a Step Closer to the Imperial Presidency|David Frum|December 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When I proposed calling the blog “Zion Square,” which later became “Open Zion,” some supporters said it was too parochial.
Why Open Zion is Closing|Peter Beinart|November 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Vouchers provide public funds to parents who need help in paying tuition for private or parochial schools.
Michelle Rhee: My Break With the Democrats|Michelle Rhee|February 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
What can you learn about the present status of the parochial school movement, especially in your own vicinity?
Aliens or Americans?|Howard B. Grose
They relate to the two points of episcopal jurisdiction and superintendence, and residence of parochial clergy.
Memoirs of the Court and Cabinets of George the Third, Volume 2 (of 2)|The Duke of Buckingham
In 1522 the establishment of clergy consisted of a vicar, eleven parochial priests and two chantry priests.
Bell's Cathedrals: The Churches of Coventry|Frederic W. Woodhouse
The shabby plainness of Wren's church well typified all the parochial parsimony.
The Pretty Lady |Arnold E. Bennett
His mother never got any parochial relief, and she and her daughter have to struggle along as best they can.
Our Journey to the Hebrides|Joseph Pennell and Elizabeth Robins Pennell

British Dictionary definitions for parochial

parochial

adjective

narrow in outlook or scope; provincial

of or relating to a parish or parishes

Derived Formsparochialism, nounparochiality, nounparochially, adverb

Word Origin for parochial

C14: via Old French from Church Latin parochiālis; see parish

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

Word Origin and History for parochial

parochial

adj.

late 14c., "pertaining to a parish," from Anglo-French parochiel (late 13c.), from Old French parochial, from Late Latin parochialis "of a parish" (c.600), from parochia (see parish).

Figurative sense, "limited, narrow," as if confined to a small region, is from 1856 (also see parochialism). Parochial school is attested from 1755.

parochial

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of parochial

Examples from the Web for parochial

parochial

adjective

Word Origin for parochial

parochial