adjective
C2
Proficient
insular
IN-syuh-lur
Insular (adjective) means Interested only in your own group or community and uninterested in ideas or people from outside it. Example: “The department had become insular and suspicious of outsiders.”
adjective
1
Interested only in your own group or community and uninterested in ideas or people from outside it.
"The department had become insular and suspicious of outsiders."
"Living abroad cured him of a rather insular outlook."
2
formal Of or relating to an island or islands.
"Insular species often evolve in unusual directions."
How to use insular
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOnly caring about your own small circle.
When to use it
The figurative sense is critical; the island sense is neutral and mostly technical.
Memory tip
The metaphor is an island: a group cut off from everything around it.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
insular / isolated
insular / insolent
Common pairings
insular attitude
insular community
insular thinking
increasingly insular
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The department had become _____ and suspicious of outsiders.
Etymology
From Latin insularis, from insula 'island'.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for insular
See all rhymes for insular →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between insular and isolated?
Isolated describes a physical or social separation that may be nobody's choice. Insular describes an attitude, suggesting the group has chosen to shut others out or simply has no curiosity about them.
Is insular an insult?
In its figurative sense, yes. It accuses a person or institution of narrowness. The biological and geographical sense, as in insular flora, carries no criticism.
What is insularity?
Insularity is the noun form, meaning the state of being closed off and inward-looking, as in the insularity of a small profession.
What is the meaning of insular?
"insular" (adjective) means interested only in your own group or community and uninterested in ideas or people from outside it.
