Standard Lemma guide

parish-pump

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpæɹɪʃ ˌpʌmp/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˈpæɹɪʃ ˌpʌmp/
  • General-American: /ˈpɛ-/ Mary–marry–merry merger
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of local interest or significance only; petty, parochial.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, dated, derogatory, figuratively, not-comparable, often

Topics: government, politics

Examples

  • parish pump politics parish-pump squabbles

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From parish + pump, the attributive form of parish pump, alluding to its use as a place where members of a parish meet and talk to each other.