Definition of parochial

The word "parochial" originally stems from the Old French word "paroisial," which in turn derives from the Latin "paroecus," meaning "adjacent" or "nearby." In ecclesiastical context, the original meaning of "parochial" referred to a parish or the surrounding area. A parish, in religious terms, is a self-contained community of the faithful who have a specific church or pastor as their spiritual leader, often covering a certain geographic area. The term "parochial" then took on a secondary meaning to refer to things that are related to or characteristic of a parish, such as its schools, hospitals, or other institutions. In a broader sense, "parochial" can also be used to describe things that are excessively or overly focused on one's local community, to the exclusion of outside perspectives or broader contexts. This sense of the word gained additional currency during the 19th century as educational reformers called for an end to rote memorization and the instilling of broader, more universal values in place of a narrow focus on local area specifics. In this context, "parochial schools" still refer to religious educational institutions, but the term "parochial" connotes a specific type of program that may be more limited than secular, broader public schools or other programs.