insular

adjective

in·​su·​lar ˈin(t)-su̇-lər 

-syu̇-,

ˈin-shə-lər

1

: characteristic of an isolated people

especially : being, having, or reflecting a narrow provincial viewpoint

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

Synonyms

• illiberal
• Lilliputian
• little
• narrow
• narrow-minded
• parochial
• petty
• picayune
• provincial
• sectarian
• small
• small-minded

Examples of insular in a Sentence

the insular world of boarding schools

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Our heroine is Devon (Meghann Fahy), a hot mess from Buffalo who has arrived on a rich and insular Martha’s Vineyard-eque island in search of her younger sister Simone (Milly Alcock). —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2025

Business history is littered with failures rooted in the suppression of dissenting views: Swissair’s board became increasingly insular and overconfident before the airline's collapse in 2002. —Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025

The festival, a champion of world cinema, which normally positions itself above the insular tastes of the Academy, knew the significance of the moment. —Thomas Page, CNN Money, 11 May 2025

Many knowledgeable people around Major League Baseball, and some people with your organization, believe that the Rockies are too insular. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 11 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin insularis, from Latin insula island

First Known Use

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)