provincialism

noun

Definition of provincialismnext
1
as in parochialism

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in regionalism

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of provincialism 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 But the return of a mysterious young woman Sandra (Roxane Mesquida), a scowling blonde sporting a leg brace and a rock’n’roll air of disdain for her hometown’s provincialism, expands Naw’s horizons suddenly. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for provincialism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provincialism
  1. parochialism
  2. regionalism
  3. insularity
  4. localism
  5. idiom
  6. colloquialism
  7. vernacular
  8. parlance
Noun
  • Historically, parochialism about other minds has been a bad bet—reflexive dismissal won’t get us any further than credulous acceptance.
    — Tharin Pillay, Time, 15 June 2026
  • Proximity and parochialism dictate that the San Diego Wave’s biggest rival is Angel City, Los Angeles’ National Women’s Soccer League club.
    — Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Definition of parochialism
Noun
  • At the very least, regionalism marked a spatial recalibration in the literary imaginary, away from European metropoles and national capitals and toward rural hinterlands.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The sport is defined by regionalism and spectacle, contradiction and chaos.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of regionalism
Noun
  • His bond with Nathan was premised on its insularity, then Gael arrived like Yoko and threw everything out of whack.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2026
  • But the issue is mostly that Zeller’s psychological insight into his characters runs a lot deeper than his thoughts on the privileged insularity of wealth.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of insularity
Noun
  • And history points toward consolidation not having a great impact on localism.
    — Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Both the ceramic and the chamoy traditions symbolize layers of culture as shaped by globalism and localism.
    — Stephanie Shih June 17, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
Definition of localism
Noun
  • To borrow from a more crude idiom, the Knicks need to shoot or get off the free throw line.
    — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Its palette is broad, moving from comic to straight rap, from Cab Calloway swing to Beyoncé-style ballads, each idiom chosen for its dramatic purpose.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of idiom
Noun
  • Clues in quotation marks are colloquialisms, of a kind, and need to solve to a phrase that’s similar in tone.
    — Sam Corbin, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Her vetting crusades have brought about a new Washington colloquialism.
    — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Definition of colloquialism
Noun
  • If the power of the film is as the sum of its parts, Vaughan’s photography isolates these parts to reveal a city vernacular.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Good in the room, in the vernacular of Jean-Pierre’s new world.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of vernacular
Noun
  • This is one of the few glimpses that the film offers of the Special Military Operation, as Russia’s war in Ukraine is known in official parlance.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Citizenship in general parlance has been reduced to legal status.
    — Trygve Throntveit, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of parlance

Browse Nearby Words

provincial
provincialism
provincialisms
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Provincialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provincialism. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of cockamamie

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All