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
  • This insularity causes the same surnames to show up over and over in public records from Followers communities in Idaho, and, just as happened in the faith’s earlier generations, the sprawling Followers families tend to intermarry.
    — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Countering insularity, Edelman found, requires brokering trust through common interests.
    — Kurt Shillinger, Christian Science Monitor, 30 July 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
  • The multigenerational family epic is one of my favorite kinds of novels, and Min Jin Lee is a master of that idiom.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
  • In that context, all three filmmakers agreed that, while English films are on the rise, the idiom is just another card on their table—and Swiss directors are eager to play their hands.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of idiom
Noun
  • Her vetting crusades have brought about a new Washington colloquialism.
    — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The show chugged along nonetheless, gradually attracting fans who adored its stark cinematography and weirdo colloquialisms.
    — Claire McNear, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2025
Definition of colloquialism
Noun
  • Kuechly needs to explain some football vernacular a little more.
    — Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Over Taiwanese breakfast, Claira Janover, a lively 28-year-old working for the AI fashion start-up Phia, is explaining the latest vernacular from Wasia.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of vernacular
Noun
  • In response, the town shifted its marketing to late-night booze-ups and wedding parties (known, in British parlance, as stag dos and hen dos), and subsequently grew a reputation as a sandcastle Sodom.
    — George Francis Lee, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In OpenAI's current parlance, a plugin is a bundle of apps, instructions, role-specific skills, and recurring workflows rather than an external application or a folder of sample prompts.
    — Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 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 11 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of patina

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

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

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
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
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All