insular

[ in-suh-ler, ins-yuh- ]

adjective

1. narrow-minded or illiberal; provincial:

   insular attitudes toward foreigners.

2. standing alone; detached; isolated:

   an insular building.

3. of or relating to an island or islands:

   a nation's insular possessions.

4. dwelling or situated on an island.
5. forming an island:

   insular rocks.

6. of, relating to, or characteristic of islanders or isolated people:

   insular tribes;

   insular sects.

7. Pathology. occurring in or characterized by one or more isolated spots, patches, or the like.
8. Anatomy. pertaining to an island of cells or tissue, as the islets of Langerhans.

noun

1. an inhabitant of an island; islander.

insular

/ ˌɪnsjʊˈlærɪtɪ; ˈɪnsjʊlə /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling an island
2. remote, detached, or aloof
3. illiberal or narrow-minded
4. isolated or separated

Derived Forms

• ˈinsularly, adverb
• ˈinsularism, noun

Other Words From

• in·su·lar·ism noun
• in·su·lar·i·ty [in-s, uh, --, lar, -i-tee, ins, -y, uh, -] noun
• in·su·lar·ly adverb
• in·ter·in·su·lar adjective
• trans·in·su·lar adjective
• un·in·su·lar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of insular¹

From the Late Latin word insulāris, dating back to 1605–15. See insula, -ar ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of insular¹

C17: from Late Latin insulāris, from Latin insula island, isle

Example Sentences

Could such a thing happen in our fractured, culturally insular day and age?

From Los Angeles Times

His formal announcement, held within the cozy confines of Mar-a-Lago, made his campaign feel insular and ill-suited to the current political realities.

From BBC

They had encountered an age-old phenomenon common in insular communities cut off from home.

From Los Angeles Times

Strikingly, the insular cortex, a part of the brain that connects deeper brain regions with the cortex, had consistent and unique patterns for both positive and negative emotions, but not for mixed ones.

From Salon

Immigrant culture can be very insular and fearful of outsiders, and there’s a good reason for that.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• circumscribed
• isolated
• parochial
• petty