parochial
/pəˈɹəʊkɪəl/
Group 19Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Relating to a parish; having a limited or narrow outlook or scope GRE
Example in Context
The critic dismissed the novel as parochial, arguing that its concerns were too local to resonate with an international audience.
Synonyms
narrowlimitedinsular
Etymology
Relating to a local area, hence limited in perspective.
- paroikia (Greek) — residence
- parish (Latin) — local church
Memory Aid
🔑Sounds like “pair o' key all”
Imagine a 'PAIR O' keys' that can only open one tiny CHURCH door — so PAROCHIAL!
Visual Association
🏘️A small town with just one church and no other buildings, highlighting its narrow focus.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “parochial” mean on the GRE?
parochial (adjective) means “Relating to a parish; having a limited or narrow outlook or scope”. The critic dismissed the novel as parochial, arguing that its concerns were too local to resonate with an international audience.
How to remember “parochial” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “parochial” sounds like “pair o' key all”. Imagine a 'PAIR O' keys' that can only open one tiny CHURCH door — so PAROCHIAL!
What are synonyms for “parochial”?
Common synonyms: narrow, limited, insular.