adj
C2
Proficient
parochial
puh-ROH-keerl
Parochial (adj) means relating to a parish, the local area a church serves. Example: “The children attended the parochial school run by the church.”
adj
1
Relating to a parish, the local area a church serves.
"The children attended the parochial school run by the church."
2
Narrow-minded or overly focused on local matters, ignoring the wider picture.
"His parochial view of politics never looked beyond his own town."
"Critics called the policy parochial, since it ignored how other countries were handling the crisis."
How to use parochial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither about a parish, or (more commonly today) narrow and small-minded in outlook.
Common mistake
The negative sense ("narrow-minded") is far more common in everyday speech than the literal "relating to a parish" sense.
Common pairings
parochial school
a parochial attitude
parochial concerns
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like parochial.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- parochials
- Comparative
- more parochial
- Superlative
- most parochial
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children attended the _____ school run by the church.
Etymology
From Late Latin parochialis, related to a church district, ultimately from Greek paroikia, "community, diocese."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for parochial
See all rhymes for parochial →Frequently asked questions
What does “parochial” mean?
The word “parochial” means relating to a parish, the local area a church serves. In plain terms, either about a parish, or (more commonly today) narrow and small-minded in outlook.
How do you pronounce “parochial”?
“Parochial” is pronounced puh-ROH-keerl (/pəˈɹoʊki.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “parochial” in a sentence?
Here is “parochial” used in a sentence: “The children attended the parochial school run by the church.”
What part of speech is “parochial”?
“Parochial” is an adjective.
Where does the word “parochial” come from?
The word “parochial” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin parochialis, related to a church district, ultimately from Greek paroikia, "community, diocese.".
How many meanings does “parochial” have?
“Parochial” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to a parish, the local area a church serves.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include parochial:
