hermit kingdom: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (specialized political/historical discourse)Formal, academic, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “hermit kingdom” mean?
A country that deliberately isolates itself from international relations, trade, and cultural exchange.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A country that deliberately isolates itself from international relations, trade, and cultural exchange.
A geopolitical term describing a nation that enforces strict political, economic, and social isolation, often characterized by authoritarian rule, extreme nationalism, and limited contact with the outside world. Historically applied to Korea under the Joseon dynasty and now primarily associated with North Korea.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in meaning and context. Slightly more frequent in American geopolitical discourse due to its focus on North Korea.
Connotations
Identical connotations of isolation, secrecy, and authoritarian control.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties; appears in high-level political analysis, history textbooks, and quality journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “hermit kingdom” in a Sentence
[Country] is often described as a hermit kingdom.Analysts refer to [Country] as the hermit kingdom.The hermit kingdom of [Country] maintains...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hermit kingdom” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- For centuries, Tibet was perceived as a hermit kingdom, inaccessible to outsiders.
- The journalist's book aimed to pierce the veil of secrecy surrounding the hermit kingdom.
American English
- The CIA's assessment focused on the stability of the East Asian hermit kingdom.
- Sanctions have only reinforced the hermit kingdom's isolationist stance.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in risk analysis reports: 'Investing in the hermit kingdom carries extreme political and operational risks.'
Academic
Common in political science, history, and international relations: 'The Joseon Dynasty's policy of isolation earned Korea the label "Hermit Kingdom" in Western discourse.'
Everyday
Very rare. Might appear in news headlines or documentaries about North Korea.
Technical
Used as a descriptive label in geopolitical analysis and intelligence reports, though often replaced with more precise terminology like 'isolated totalitarian state'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hermit kingdom”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hermit kingdom”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hermit kingdom”
- Using it to describe any isolated region (e.g., 'My rural village is a hermit kingdom'). It applies specifically to sovereign nation-states. / Using it as a neutral term in modern contexts; it is politically charged. / Confusing it with 'kingdom' in the literal sense; it is a metaphor.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an unofficial, derogatory label used primarily by foreign commentators and media. North Korea's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Yes, but rarely and usually in historical context (e.g., 19th-century Japan under the sakoku policy) or as a deliberate analogy. Its primary modern referent is North Korea.
It implies backwardness, irrationality, and a voluntary rejection of international norms, which critics argue oversimplifies complex historical and geopolitical reasons for a nation's isolation and can be seen as culturally dismissive.
'Hermit kingdom' emphasizes isolation and secrecy. 'Rogue state' emphasizes a perceived threat to international peace through aggression, terrorism, or WMD proliferation. A country can be one without necessarily being the other, though they are often conflated in the case of North Korea.
A country that deliberately isolates itself from international relations, trade, and cultural exchange.
Hermit kingdom is usually formal, academic, journalistic in register.
Hermit kingdom: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɜː.mɪt ˈkɪŋ.dəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɝː.mɪt ˈkɪŋ.dəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Live in a hermit kingdom (metaphorical for self-imposed isolation)”
- “The walls of the hermit kingdom (referring to barriers to information/contact)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a hermit living alone in a cave; now imagine an entire kingdom that behaves like that hermit, shutting its gates to the world.
Conceptual Metaphor
A NATION IS A PERSON (a reclusive, suspicious person). / ISOLATION IS A CONTAINER (the kingdom is a sealed vessel).
Practice
Quiz
Which historical state was FIRST widely known in the West as the 'Hermit Kingdom'?