insular

1 of 2

adjective

in·​su·​lar ˈin(t)-su̇-lər 

-syu̇-, 

ˈin-shə-lər

1

: separated from other people or cultures

especially : not knowing or interested in new or different ideas

2

a

: of, relating to, or constituting an island

b

: dwelling or situated on an island

insular residents

3

: of or relating to an island of cells or tissue

insularism

ˈin(t)-su̇-lə-ˌri-zəm 

-syu̇-, 

ˈin-shə-lə-

noun

insularity

ˌin(t)-su̇-ˈler-ə-tē 

-ˈla-rə- -syu̇-, 

ˌin-shə-ˈler-ə-, 

-ˈla-rə-

noun

insularly

ˈin(t)-su̇-lər-lē 

-syu̇-, 

ˈin-shə-

adverb

insularity

2 of 2

noun

in·​su·​lar·​i·​ty

-ətē, 

-i also -ˈler-

plural -es

1

: the quality or state of being an island or consisting of islands

the insularity of Great Britain

2

a

: condition of dwelling on an island or in isolation

b

: narrowness or illiberality of opinion or custom

Synonyms of insular

Adjective

• parochial
• small
• petty
• narrow

Examples of insular in a Sentence

Adjective

the insular world of boarding schools

an insular community that is not receptive of new ideas, especially from outsiders

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The race highlighted the lengths the insular judicial community would go to protect their own from election challenges. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026

Following the release of ChatGPT in 2022, OpenAI’s founding team found themselves on the other side of overnight fame—at least in the insular tech bubble of the Bay Area. — Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026

The demotion has raised questions in this city’s insular taco world — about not only what had gone wrong at El Califa, but also which Mexico, rich or poor, should control the narrative of the taco, that most egalitarian of foods. — Terrence McCoy, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2026

Music scenes were insular; tapes were copied by hand and passed between friends and family. — Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Late Latin insularis, from Latin insula island

First Known Use

Adjective

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for insular

• peninsular

Kids Definition

insular

adjective

in·​su·​lar ˈin(t)s-(y)ə-lər 

ˈin-shə-lər

1

: of, relating to, or forming an island

2

: being isolated or detached

an insular building

3

: not open to new or different ideas : narrow

an insular viewpoint

insularity

ˌin(t)s-(y)ə-ˈlar-ət-ē 

ˌin-shə-ˈlar-

noun

Medical Definition

insular

adjective

in·​su·​lar -lər 

: of or relating to an island of cells or tissue (as the islets of Langerhans or the insula)