Insular
/ˈɪn.sjə.lɚ/noun
Relating to an island, or isolated and narrow in outlook.
Did you know?Its root is the same ancient island-word behind English island, so the idea of being “insular” literally began as being cut off by water before it became a metaphor for closed-off thinking.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*heh₂ns-
“to stand, be located”
Latin
Latin
insula
“island”
Late Latin
Latin
insularis
“of or belonging to an island”
Old French
Old French
insulaire
“of an island; island-dwelling”
Middle English
English
insular
“of or pertaining to an island”
Modern English
English
insular
“relating to an island, or narrow-minded and isolated”