Words / C2

INS-y-uh-l-uh/ˈɪnsjələ/

Insular means inward-looking and unwilling to meet other views; also “of an island”: an insular clique, insular habits. Narrow-minded is everyday; hermetic (already in the dictionary) is sealed against outsiders. An island is the root (insula). Do not call a specialist lab insular merely for having a lock.

Meaning

Narrow in outlook, unwilling to meet other ideas; also of an island.

Examples

• “An insular clique wrote the timetable and skipped the night bus.”
• “Narrow-minded is everyday. Hermetic is sealed (already in C2). Insulated is wrapped against heat — a cousin look. A locked fridge can be correct. A group that never reads another department’s risk register is insular.”

Good to know

Inward-looking; also of an island. Everyday: narrow-minded. Cousin: hermetic (sealed). A lock can be safety; a clique skipping the bus is not.

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