regionalism

noun

re·​gion·​al·​ism ˈrē-jə-nə-ˌli-ˌli-zəm 

ˈrēj-nə-

1

a

: consciousness of and loyalty to a distinct region with a homogeneous population

b

: development of a political or social system based on one or more such areas

2

: emphasis on regional locale and characteristics in art or literature

3

: a characteristic feature (as of speech) of a geographic area

regionalist

ˈrē-jə-nə-list 

ˈrēj-nə-list

noun or adjective

regionalistic

ˌrē-jə-nə-ˈli-stik 

ˌrēj-nə-ˈli-

adjective

Examples of regionalism in a Sentence

The residents have a strong sense of regionalism.

The word “pop” for “soda” is a Midwest regionalism.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sarah Orne Jewett The 35th stamp in the Literary Arts series honors Sarah Orne Jewett, a foundational figure in American literary regionalism. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025

This national narrative sat in tension with a growing regionalism, seen in the rise of local historians and small museums. —JSTOR Daily, 26 Oct. 2025

To be clear, hip-hop in general doesn’t have a regionalism problem. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025

Hovering above all this is a related belief in promoting regionalism as a hedge against the flattening influence of corporate-media consolidation. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for regionalism

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

Kids Definition

regionalism

noun

re·​gion·​al·​ism ˈrēj-nəl-ˌiz-əm 

-ən-ᵊl-

1

: the quality of being conscious of and loyal to a particular region

2

: the practice of using a particular region as the setting in art or literature

3

: an individual quality (as of speech) of a geographic area

regionalist

-əst 

noun or adjective

regionalistic

ˌrēj-nəl-ˈis-tik 

-ən-ᵊl-

adjective