insularity

IPA/ˌɪnsjuˈlærəti/
KK[ˌɪnsəlˈɛrɪti]IPA/ˌɪnsəˈlærəti/

insularity — noun

1. an unwillingness or inability to consider ideas, cultures, or people from outsid

1.名詞C1
釋義

an unwillingness or inability to consider ideas, cultures, or people from outside one's own familiar group, often leading to a narrow worldview

例句

Returning from Tokyo, Noor saw her hometown's insularity when neighbours laughed at the dishes she brought from abroad.

demonstrates insularity through concrete rejection of foreign culture

Myanmar's decades of insularity meant foreign retailers could not open stores until the government lifted trade restrictions in the 2010s.

collocation: decades of insularity

同義詞
  • narrow-mindedness

    more personal and general; insularity often refers to groups or institutions

  • parochialism

    specifically tied to a limited local perspective, as if one's own parish is all that matters

  • provincialism

    emphasizes lack of sophistication or exposure to the wider world

  • isolationism

    political term for a country's refusal to engage in international affairs

反義詞

用法筆記

Frequently used in social or political commentary to describe groups, institutions, or nations rather than individuals. When applied to a person, it suggests a broader cultural or intellectual limitation rather than a personal preference.

常見錯誤

❌The diplomat's insularity helped him negotiate well with foreign leaders.
✅The diplomat's open-mindedness helped him negotiate well with foreign leaders.
💡Insularity is a negative quality about being closed to outside ideas; it makes international negotiation harder, not easier.
❌The walls provide good insularity against the cold.
✅The walls provide good insulation against the cold.
💡Insulation is the correct word for the material sense; insularity refers to a social or mental state.

2. a situation in which a person or community has little to no contact or communica

2.名詞C1
釋義

a situation in which a person or community has little to no contact or communication with people outside their immediate surroundings

例句

Moving to the countryside, Andrei felt the insularity of weeks passing with no visitors from outside the village.

insularity of + concrete display of social isolation

The insularity of the remote village meant help was hours away in an emergency.

同義詞
  • isolation

    more general and common; less formal than insularity

  • seclusion

    suggests deliberate withdrawal rather than circumstantial separation

  • remoteness

    emphasizes physical distance and difficulty of access

反義詞
  • integration

    the process of becoming part of a larger community

  • connectedness

    the state of having regular contact and communication with others

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (CULTURAL NARROWNESS): this sense focuses on physical or social separation rather than unwillingness to engage with new ideas. Can apply to individuals as well as groups and often carries a tone of sadness or concern rather than judgment.