provincialism

[ pruh-vin-shuh-liz-uh m ]

/ prəˈvɪn ʃəˌlɪz əm /

narrowness of mind, ignorance, or the like, considered as resulting from lack of exposure to cultural or intellectual activity.

a trait, habit of thought, etc., characteristic of a provincial, a province, or the provinces.

a word, expression, or mode of pronunciation peculiar to a province.

devotion to one's own province before the nation as a whole.

Origin of provincialism

First recorded in 1760–70; provincial + -ism

No speechifying, no debates, no scolding of American provincialism, just a welcome view of what the rest of the world is reading.

What the World Is Reading |Taylor Antrim |April 30, 2009 |DAILY BEAST
But insularity or provincialism in the literary community, he said, is nothing to sneer at.

Nobel writer puzzles American authors |Ross Goldberg |October 9, 2008 |DAILY BEAST
Smallness spells provincialism, and provincialism spells smallness.

Letters from a Father to His Son Entering College |Charles Franklin Thwing
He was to learn, in a hard and bitter school, the danger of provincialism and the value of Nationality.

The Life of John Marshall (Volume 1 of 4) |Albert J. Beveridge

Suchet, an ardent student of human nature, was quick to appreciate how to turn to his use this provincialism.

Napoleon's Marshals |R. P. Dunn-Pattison
In Australia, says Mr. Froude, 'no provincialism has yet developed itself.

The Quarterly Review, Volume 162, No. 324, April, 1886 |Various
Wide reading in various departments will banish narrowness and provincialism.

Elementary Guide to Literary Criticism |F. V. N. Painter

provincialism

/ (prəˈvɪnʃəˌlɪzəm) /

narrowness of mind or outlook; lack of sophistication

a word or attitude characteristic of a provincial

attention to the affairs of one's province rather than the whole nation

the state or quality of being provincial

Also: localism