clannish

[ klan-ish ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a clan.
2. inclined to associate exclusively with the members of one's own group; cliquish:

   the clannish behavior of the original members of the country club.

   Synonyms: narrow, aloof, distant, snobbish, exclusive

3. imbued with or influenced by the sentiments, prejudices, or the like, of a clan.

clannish

/ ˈklænɪʃ /

adjective

1. of or characteristic of a clan
2. tending to associate closely within a limited group to the exclusion of outsiders; cliquish

Derived Forms

• ˈclannishly, adverb
• ˈclannishness, noun

Other Words From

• clannish·ly adverb
• clannish·ness noun
• un·clannish adjective
• un·clannish·ly adverb
• un·clannish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of clannish¹

First recorded in 1770–80; clan + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

The model relies on a dramatic shift in relations among officers and prisoners, two historically warring factions in a system built on clannish gamesmanship for survival.

From Los Angeles Times

It has that common pervasive dampness along with plenty of clannish townspeople who resent these nosy Nellies poking around where they have no business.

From New York Times

University officials who bought into longstanding stereotypes of Jews as clannish, conniving, and socially undesirable worried that admitting Jews would taint the reputation of the schools.

From National Geographic

It was there that he developed his checkerboard model, examining the interactions among various groups at the internment camps: the “clannish” Nisei; children of Japanese immigrants; more reclusive detainees; and camp administrators.

From New York Times

Was Mr. Murdaugh an abnormal holdover from a vanishing, clannish South Carolina culture where small groups of wealthy white men held special privilege?

From New York Times