What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
clannish
Example
The small town has a clannish community where everyone knows each other. [clannish: adjective]
Example
She found it difficult to make friends in the clannish workplace. [clannish: adjective]
parochial
Example
His parochial views prevent him from understanding different cultures. [parochial: adjective]
Example
The school's curriculum was criticized for being too parochial and not preparing students for the globalized world. [parochial: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Parochial is more commonly used than clannish in everyday language. Parochial is versatile and can be used to describe various situations and contexts, while clannish is less common and is typically used in specific contexts related to close-knit groups or communities.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between clannish and parochial?
Both clannish and parochial are generally considered informal words. However, parochial can also be used in more formal contexts when discussing limited perspectives or narrow-mindedness.