provincialism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal
Quick answer
What does “provincialism” mean?
A narrow, limited, or unsophisticated perspective, often due to a lack of experience of or interest in cultures, ideas, or places beyond one's immediate locality.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A narrow, limited, or unsophisticated perspective, often due to a lack of experience of or interest in cultures, ideas, or places beyond one's immediate locality.
A word, phrase, or feature of pronunciation, grammar, or culture that is characteristic of a specific province or region and not used or found elsewhere; regionalism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in British English in the 'attitude' sense due to historical class and regional distinctions. The 'linguistic feature' sense is equally used in academic contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, when referring to an attitude, it is strongly pejorative, suggesting parochialism, narrow-mindedness, and lack of sophistication. The descriptive linguistic sense is more neutral.
Frequency
Low-frequency in everyday conversation; more common in formal writing, political/social commentary, and linguistic studies.
Grammar
How to Use “provincialism” in a Sentence
The provincialism of [place/group]to be a victim of one's own provincialismto display/show/exhibit provincialismto break free from provincialismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “provincialism” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The editorial bemoaned the cultural provincialism of the nation's broadcasting.
- His speech was littered with charming Yorkshire provincialisms.
- They sought to escape the stifling provincialism of their hometown.
American English
- The critic attacked the artistic provincialism of the local gallery scene.
- The linguist catalogued several fascinating Appalachian provincialisms.
- A certain political provincialism often affects midterm elections.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May be used critically of companies that fail to adapt to global markets: 'The firm's provincialism led to its failure overseas.'
Academic
Common in sociology, cultural studies, political science, and linguistics to describe attitudes or regional features.
Everyday
Uncommon. Used in formal criticism of attitudes: 'His provincialism was evident in his dismissal of foreign films.'
Technical
In linguistics, a precise term for a feature (lexical, phonological, etc.) restricted to a specific region within a larger language area.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “provincialism”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “provincialism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “provincialism”
- Using it to mean simply 'from a province' (that's 'provincial').
- Misspelling as 'provincalism'.
- Using it in a positive sense (it is almost always negative or neutral-descriptive).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When referring to an attitude or mindset, it is almost always pejorative. When used in linguistics or cultural studies to describe a regional feature (e.g., a word or custom), it can be a neutral, descriptive term.
'Provincial' is an adjective describing someone or something that has the qualities of provincialism (e.g., a provincial attitude). 'Provincialism' is the abstract noun for the concept itself.
Rarely. Local pride is better described as 'regional pride' or 'local patriotism'. 'Provincialism' inherently suggests limitations arising from a local focus, not the positive aspects of it.
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word. It is most common in academic, literary, or journalistic criticism.
A narrow, limited, or unsophisticated perspective, often due to a lack of experience of or interest in cultures, ideas, or places beyond one's immediate locality.
Provincialism is usually formal in register.
Provincialism: in British English it is pronounced /prəˈvɪnʃəlɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /prəˈvɪnʃəˌlɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A prison of provincialism”
- “The shackles of provincialism”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PROVINCE + ISOLATION. Being stuck in one's province leads to isolationism and a limited worldview = PROVINCIALISM.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROVINCIALISM IS A PHYSICAL / MENTAL LIMIT (a wall, a boundary, a cage, a blindfold).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'provincialism' most likely to be used in a purely descriptive, non-judgmental way?