provincialism

noun

pro·​vin·​cial·​ism prə-ˈvin(t)-shə-ˌli-zəm 

1

: a dialectal or local word, phrase, or idiom

2

: the quality or state of being provincial

Examples of provincialism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The condescension was of its time, a provincialism of the art world, ironically. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026

Attempts to resolve ecological responsibility through strict localism often risk sliding into cultural provincialism or nationalist enclosure—fantasies of purity that ignore how deeply entangled our lives already are. — Manuela Moscoso, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026

Trotsky was repulsed by the Georgian’s pockmarked face, his coarse manners, his provincialism. — Literary Hub, 25 Feb. 2026

Liebling took this characteristic, the public shows of modesty (and less public tribalism), as good old fashioned Midwestern provincialism. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for provincialism

• activism
• albinism
• altruism
• aneurism
• animism
• aphorism
• atomism
• barbarism
• bolshevism
• botulism
• brahmanism
• calvinism

Kids Definition

provincialism

noun

pro·​vin·​cial·​ism prə-ˈvin-chə-ˌliz-əm 

1

: a local word, phrase, or idiom

2

: the quality or state of being provincial