First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
parochial
adjective pa·ro·chi·al \pə-ˈrō-kē-əl\
: of or relating to a church parish and the area around it
: limited to only the things that affect your local area
Full Definition of PAROCHIAL
1
: of or relating to a church parish
2
: of or relating to a parish as a unit of local government
3
: confined or restricted as if within the borders of a parish : limited in range or scope (as to a narrow area or region) : provincial, narrow
— pa·ro·chi·al·ly \-kē-ə-lē\ adverb
See parochial defined for English-language learners
See parochial defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Examples of PAROCHIAL
- It has never been clearer that the country's best self is a global inheritance, its worst a parochial self-certainty. —Jedediah Purdy, New York Times Book Review, 22 Feb. 2009
- There is no patience for the parochial, the small-time, the stay-in-place, not in Los Angeles. —Richard Hoffer, Sports Illustrated, 8 Sept. 2008
- … during the mid-1780s, Madison had two great goals. The first was to inculcate an enlightened sense of national interest in legislators whose political instincts were innately parochial. —Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings …, 1996
- [+]more
Origin of PAROCHIAL
Middle English parochiall, from Anglo-French parochial, from Late Latin parochialis, from parochia parish — more at parish
Related to PAROCHIAL
- Synonyms
- illiberal, insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow-minded, narrow, petty, picayune, provincial, sectarian, small, small-minded
- Antonyms
- broad-minded, catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal, open, open-minded, receptive, tolerant
Other Christian Religious Terms
Learn More About PAROCHIAL
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: parochial church councilPrevious Word in the Dictionary: parochethAll Words Near: parochial
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up parochial? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).