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What do you call a person who is regionally biased and has an unreasonable hatred/dislike for people from other regions of the country/world? Something like a racist, but the point of discrimination here is the geographical region and not race.

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Regionally biased? You mean like someone answering here, who says that English as used in the US is incorrect when it differs from English as used in the UK? – GEdgar Feb 4 '12 at 17:41
I guess so. That does seem pretty unreasonable. – vr3690 Feb 5 '12 at 19:20

11 Answers

up vote 42 down vote accepted

The word chauvinist used to mean exactly this. My impression is that this meaning is still valid, but it is possible that for younger people, this meaning has now been preempted by male chauvinism.

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+1 I think both chauvinist and xenophobe are good answers, with chauvinism including a strong pride in one's country (easily extendible to region), where as xenophobia emphasizes more of a hatred for outsiders. – Ben Hocking Feb 4 '12 at 16:46
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I looked chauvinism up after reading this answer and (of course) you are absolutely right. You are also right about male chauvism and, in fact, that is the only context in which I have heard the word used. So, firstly, thank you for enlightening me as to the broader meaning of the word and, secondly, I want to support what you said about its use among younger people - it is very much so the case. – Rachel Feb 4 '12 at 16:54
Always thought chauvinist implied male chauvinism. Thanks for enlightening. – vr3690 Feb 5 '12 at 19:21
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I seem to be one of the "younger people." Indeed, I would say that using "chauvinism" in Peter's sense is likely to be misunderstood by a modern audience, whatever a dictionary might say. – Nate Eldredge Feb 6 '12 at 4:22
up vote 45 down vote

parochial

--3. very limited or narrow in scope or outlook; provincial: parochial views; a parochial mentality.

In its strict definition in the religious sense, it is neutral; however, in an extended meaning, it has negative connotations and is often used to mean exactly as 'regional bias'.

World English Dictionary defines parochial primarily as narrow in outlook or scope; provincial (see further down on the same page as above).

[Edit] Some citations:
... $2.6 billion saved by cutting numerous accounts that have in the past been slush funds for lawmakers back-home parochial projects. (AP, federal spending bill)

... domestic interest groups ... oppose policy innovations that would hurt their parochial interests. [Thomas J. Christensen in Foreign Affairs]

... by deepening their connections with the world, or whether they might instead become more parochial, more inward-looking, ... (Bill Emmott in Newsweek, Japan's catastrophe)

The award represented a high point of cosmopolitanism at a predictably parochial event: ... (AO Scott in NYT, Cinema Purgatorio)

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I believe that the root word for parochial comes from the same latin root word as parish (parocchia in Italian, for example) and means something like 'of the parish.' However, the Italian word meaning 'parochialism' is campanilismo (irrational attachment to one's campanile, or bell tower). – ConcernedOfTunbridgeWells Feb 7 '12 at 9:22
Yes. From the reference I cited, "of or pertaining to a parish or parishes." However, the word may not be in extensive use today in that sense. – Kris Feb 7 '12 at 9:28
Just an additional example which I thought might be useful, this is from the Lonely Planet Perth and Western Australia guidebook, p25. "..isolation has moulded West Australians into a hard, self-sufficient and innovative people, staunchly independent and parochial to the point that the notion of seceding from the rest of Australia occasionally surfaces." (yes, we are that mad at times..) – tanantish Apr 28 '12 at 10:30
If you go by the technical original meaning of the word, this should apply. If you go by its actual common use, it does not (except in certian circumstances). – T.E.D. Nov 13 '12 at 14:22
up vote 27 down vote

I would think "xenophobic" would be a good word for this — someone who hates or fears "outsiders." Xenophobia is usually used to describe people who dislike foreigners, but I think it can apply regionally as well.

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up vote 7 down vote

The closest term I know is chauvinist.

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up vote 5 down vote

I think the words prejudiced, insular and intolerant could fit.

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up vote 4 down vote

It could be 'Jingoist' which actually refers to someone who believes that their own country is always best. Country could be a region perhaps?

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I'm of two minds about this one. The original term was describing an attitude in the British Empire (so not even limited to a single country, much less a single region). However, it is mushy enough to perhaps apply. – T.E.D. Nov 13 '12 at 14:21
I think jingoism may work for the OP. Definition at dictionary.reference.com/browse/jingoism is "bellicose chauvinism." A jingoist has an "unreasonable dislike for people from other regions of the world," e.g., American dislike of the Middle East. Mushy, yes, but Chauvin was a Frenchman (very proud of his country) and would consider it a stretch to speak of "male chauvinists." – rajah9 Nov 13 '12 at 14:34
up vote 4 down vote

I think parochial fits the bill.

Provincial is too mild, it lacks the castigation called for in the definition submitted by vr3690.

On the other hand, xenophobic appears somewhat harsh, given its association with racial attitudes.

Chauvinist could fit the bill. However, the term lacks the strong regional connotations required by vr3690's definition.

Insular could work. But I think the connotation of complacency dominates here. One is more a victim of one's own ignorance rather than a champion of one's own superiority.

That's why I'll go with parochial. Although the term has religious origins, in modern usage it has become sufficiently secularized to meet the implied definition of small-minded, local patriotism, not open to ideas beyond its limited horizons.

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up vote 3 down vote

A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bigot. The predominant usage in modern English refers to persons hostile to those of differing sex, race, ethnicity, religious belief or spirituality, nationality, language, sexual orientation, and age; and to those from a different region

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up vote 1 down vote

How about a "TOPOCHAUVINIST",as meaning a regional elitist,or someone regionally biased?

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up vote 0 down vote

A Regionalist! As he is biased about a region.

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up vote -1 down vote

Nativist perhaps?

Nativism is the political position of demanding a favored status for certain established inhabitants of a nation as compared to claims of newcomers or immigrants

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Welcome to EL&U! Can you edit to supply a citation? That would complete your answer and avoid the need for filler words. – MετάEd Feb 4 '12 at 16:40
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A comment like "Gotta fit 30 chars here" is worth a downvote, for the simple reason that you could instead provide a dictionary link or definition. Edit your answer, fix it up! – jwpat7 Feb 4 '12 at 17:14
nativist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – tchrist Feb 4 '12 at 18:43
Cleaned this answer up a bit, including adding text explaining the meaning (from the provided link). Hopefully now any downvotes you receive will at least be on the merits and not on the presentation. :-) – T.E.D. Nov 13 '12 at 14:19

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