noun
- the quality or tendency of a group to be exclusive, loyal primarily to its own members, and unwelcoming to outsiders
Usage: typically used in a negative or critical sense
Examples
- The clannishness of the old families made it difficult for newcomers to integrate into the community.
- Critics argued that the organization's clannishness prevented it from recruiting talented people from outside its traditional circles.
- The village's clannishness meant that outsiders were rarely invited to local events.
- Her family's clannishness sometimes made her feel isolated from the broader society.
- The company struggled to overcome its clannishness and embrace a more diverse workforce.
- Clannishness among the fraternity members created an unwelcoming atmosphere for pledges from different backgrounds.