particularistic

American  

[per-tik-yuh-ler-ist-ik] / pərˌtɪk yə lərˈɪst ɪk /

adjective

1. reflecting or adhering to a political principle of leaving each member state of a federation or empire free to retain its laws and promote its own interests.

2. showing exclusive attention or devotion to one's own particular interests, party, academic specialty, etc.

3. Theology. reflecting or adhering to the belief that God chooses particular individuals, nations, etc., and not others.

4. Philosophy. reflecting or adhering to the belief in the importance of particulars over universals.

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Other Word Forms

• particularistically
  adverb

Example Sentences

During Japan’s occupation of Southeast Asia in World War II, its troops went from being hailed as liberators to facing open revolt across the region after they failed to propagate their similarly particularistic culture.

From Salon • Sep. 7, 2018

An immigrant, Hamilton had no particularistic ties; he was by instinct a “continentalist” or federalist.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 8 "Haller, Albrecht" to "Harmonium" by Various

Crawford was considered as rather more particularistic, especially in his views on the question of internal improvements.

From The Middle Period 1817-1858 by Burgess, John William

In the first place, it would obviously terminate the particularistic grabbing for “leased” territory, concessions and spheres of influence which  has so damaged China.

From China, Japan and the U.S.A. Present-Day Conditions in the Far East and Their Bearing on the Washington Conference by Dewey, John

It was not by any means even a good example of Western particularistic feeling.

From The Winning of the West, Volume 4 Louisiana and the Northwest, 1791-1807 by Roosevelt, Theodore