Pronunciation: /ˈklænɪʃ/

Definitions of clannish

adjective showing a strong tendency to associate with one's own group and to avoid others

Example Sentences

A1 The small town was known for its clannish behavior, where everyone knew each other's business.

A2 The tight-knit community was quite clannish, often preferring to socialize within their own group.

B1 The company had a clannish culture, making it difficult for new employees to feel included.

B2 The exclusive club was known for its clannish attitude towards outsiders, rarely allowing new members to join.

C1 The political organization was criticized for its clannish practices, favoring loyalty over competence.

C2 The elite social circle was notoriously clannish, only associating with those from similar backgrounds.

Examples of clannish in a Sentence

formal The small community was known for being clannish, often keeping to themselves and rarely interacting with outsiders.

informal The neighborhood is quite clannish, everyone seems to know each other and stick together.

slang I heard that group is really clannish, they only hang out with each other and don't let anyone else in.

figurative The company's upper management was accused of being clannish, only promoting those who were part of their inner circle.

Grammatical Forms of clannish

past tense

clannished

plural

clannishes

comparative

more clannish

superlative

most clannish

present tense

clannish

future tense

will be clannish

perfect tense

have clannished

continuous tense

is clannishing

singular

clannish

positive degree

clannish

infinitive

to clannish

gerund

clannishing

participle

clannished

Origin and Evolution of clannish

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Old Irish
Story behind the word: The word 'clannish' originated from the Old Irish word 'cland', meaning family or kinship.
Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe the close-knit and exclusive nature of family relationships, 'clannish' evolved to also describe groups or communities that are insular, exclusive, or favoring their own members over outsiders.