pro·vin·cial·ism / prəˈvinchəˌlizəm/ • n. 1. the way of life or mode of thought characteristic of the regions outside the capital city of a country, esp. when regarded as unsophisticated or narrow-minded. ∎  narrow-mindedness, insularity, or lack of sophistication: the myopic provincialism of women's studies.2. concern for one's own area or region at the expense of national or supranational unity.3. a word or phrase peculiar to a local area.4. the degree to which plant or animal communities are restricted to particular areas.DERIVATIVES: pro·vin·cial·ist n. & adj.

PROVINCIALISM. A usually pejorative term for a lack of social and linguistic sophistication regarded as typical of provinces and provincials, and for a WORD or other usage that is not accepted in the capital or the main cultural centre(s) of a nation. See -ISM, STYLE.