regionalism

[ ree-juh-nl-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. Government. the principle or system of dividing a city, state, etc., into separate administrative regions.
2. advocacy of such a principle or system.
3. a speech form, expression, custom, or other feature peculiar to or characteristic of a particular area.
4. devotion to the interests of one's own region.
5. Literature. the theory or practice of emphasizing the regional characteristics of locale or setting, as by stressing local speech.
6. (often initial capital letter) a style of American painting developed chiefly 1930–40 in which subject matter was derived principally from rural areas.

regionalism

/ ˈriːdʒənəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. division of a country into administrative regions having partial autonomy
2. advocacy of such division
3. loyalty to one's home region; regional patriotism
4. the common interests of national groups, people, etc, living in the same part of the world
5. a word, custom, accent, or other characteristic associated with a specific region

Derived Forms

• ˈregionalist, nounadjective

Other Words From

• region·al·ist noun adjective
• region·al·istic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of regionalism¹

First recorded in 1880–85; regional + -ism

Example Sentences

A melancholy tale of family dysfunction presented as a complicated crime thriller, it combines British regionalism with peak TV-style poker-faced comedy in a way that has made it a critical darling around the world.

From New York Times

Football, for all its unabashed ties to virulent tribalism or staunch regionalism, makes those inherent differences fairly difficult to mend.

From Los Angeles Times

“Back in the 1980s, it was called regionalism,” Brooks says.

From Los Angeles Times

“We know we are stronger when we combine our collective efforts and focus on pacific regionalism and the priorities of the blue pacific continent,” Hipkins said.

From Reuters

"Reject regionalism and tribalism and stop fighting among yourselves now," he said in a recorded message to the people of El Geneina.

From BBC

Related Words

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