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Insular

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(pronounced in-suh-lur or ins-yuh-lur)  adjective

Definition

1. of, pertaining to, or constituting an island; living or situated on an island. 2. detached or isolated, like an island.   3. like or characteristic of islanders; bigoted; narrow-minded, restricted, or provincial in one's ideas, perspective, or experience.

Other Forms

Insularity  (pronounced in-suh-lar-ih-tee or ins-yuh-lar-ih-tee)  noun

Main Example

• Despite numerous sting operations by law enforcement, child pornography continues to thrive. This is partly because the Internet affords complete insularity to those participating in this criminal pursuit--they can access child porn from a computer within the privacy of their homes, without having to deal with another person, as would be the case if they had to visit sex shops.

Workplace Examples

• Because Shawna can connect with just about everyone, she has had tremendous success at running our department which, as you know, is like a mini-U.N., comprising people from several countries. Shawna is extremely cosmopolitan and worldly, unlike her predecessor who was rather insular and narrow.
• Our Caribbean branch office leads a pretty insular existence, which is why their methods and procedures are so unique. I'll bet that fewer than five people from the continental U.S. have even visited there.

Other Examples

• an executive telling a newcomer: "Twenty years ago, our company had a very self-assured and insular corporate culture: we were almost 'deaf' to what was happening outside. Even at industry conferences, there was very little contact with other companies' employees."
• a key reason why the late Katherine Graham so ably shepherded her vast media empire even while in her seventies: she shunned insularity and constantly strove to meet people of different backgrounds and age groups
• sociologists warning that staying glued to the Internet for hours and hours during one's leisure time could lead to insularity and diminished social skills
• the often-heard criticism from people of other countries that most Americans are living in an insular world, because they are much too preoccupied with the goings-on at home, and don't look beyond to world events

© 2008 V.J. Singal

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