insular
adj.adj. describing a person or group that is not interested in new ideas or different cultures. It can also describe something that is physically or socially separated from others, like an island.
adj. characterised by a lack of interest in cultures, ideas, or people outside of one's own experience. Often describes isolated communities or narrow-minded perspectives; can also refer literally to something relating to an island.
The small village was very insular and didn't like strangers.
Living in such an insular community made it difficult for him to adapt to the diverse environment of a large city.
The company's insular corporate culture eventually led to its downfall, as leadership refused to acknowledge emerging market trends or listen to external consultants.
Learned borrowing from Latin īnsulāris (“of or belonging to an island”), from īnsula (“an island”), of uncertain origin.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often used with a negative connotation to imply narrow-mindedness. It can be used both literally (relating to islands) and figuratively (relating to social isolation).
Last updated May 11, 2026