Insular
/ˈɪnsələr/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Insular describes something or someone that is like an island—separated or isolated from others. It often means having a narrow way of thinking, not open to new ideas or different cultures. It can describe people, places, or attitudes that are closed off or limited in their experience.
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See It in Action
Physically separated like an island
- •The island’s insular location made travel difficult.
- •Many insular communities have unique traditions.
- •The town felt insular because it was far from big cities.
Narrow-minded or limited in experience or ideas
- •His insular attitude made it hard to work with people from other cultures.
- •The company’s insular policies stopped new ideas from growing.
- •She was criticized for her insular view of the world.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'insular' like 'alone,' but not just physically—also mentally or socially separated.
- ✓Picture a small island surrounded by water, cut off from the mainland, hard to reach.
- ✓It's the feeling when someone only talks about their own small world and does not listen to others.
- ✓Sounds like 'IN-suh-lar' → Imagine someone 'in' a 'solar' system all by themselves, far from other planets.
- ✓In stories, insular characters might live in a village where no one visits outsiders, so they don’t know much about the outside world.
- ✓NOT like 'open' (welcoming new ideas and people), insular means closed or limited.
- ✓NOT like 'isolated' only physically, insular also means mentally or culturally closed.
- ✓NOT like 'broad-minded' which means open to many ideas, insular means narrow-minded or limited.
Try Other Words
- •Isolated: physically or socially separated (Use when focusing on physical separation)
- •Narrow-minded: not open to new ideas (Use when focusing on mental or cultural limits)
- •Closed: not open to new ideas or people (Use in informal contexts about attitudes)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "insul-" (from Latin "insula" meaning island) + "-ar" (adjective suffix)
- •Etymology: From Latin "insularis," meaning "of or like an island"
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe things related to islands; later used metaphorically for isolated or narrow views
- •Modern usage: Describes both physical separation and limited mental or cultural openness
- •Key insight: The idea of being like an island—separate and closed off
Reflect & Connect
•How can being insular protect a culture but also limit its growth?
•In what ways might someone’s insular attitude affect their relationships with others?
Fill in the blanks
1.The small village was insular because it was ___ by mountains and had little contact with outsiders.
2.His insular mindset made it difficult for him to ___ new ideas from other countries.
3.Unlike open cities, insular communities often have ___ traditions and resist change.
4.When a person is insular, they tend to avoid ___ with different cultures or people.
5.The company's insular policies ___ innovation and kept it from growing.
6.People who are insular usually have a ___ view of the world and avoid diverse opinions.
7.The island’s insular location meant that travel and trade were often ___ during bad weather.