noun
- the quality or state of being incestuous; involvement in or characterized by sexual relations between family members
- the quality of being excessively inbred or self-referential within a closed group or system
Usage: formal; typically used in legal, medical, or academic contexts
Usage: figurative; used to describe insular or nepotistic practices in organizations, industries, or communities
Examples
- The social worker documented evidence of incestuousness in the family case file.
- Critics argued that the incestuousness of the film industry limited opportunities for outsiders.
- The board's incestuousness—with members all from the same background—raised concerns about bias.
- Legal statutes address the criminal nature of incestuousness in various jurisdictions.
- The incestuousness of the academic circle meant that most positions went to internal candidates.