[re.gion.al.ism] n (1881) 1 a: consciousness of and loyalty to a distinct region with a homogeneous population b: development of a political or social system based on one or more such areas
2: emphasis on regional locale and characteristics in art or literature
3: a characteristic feature (as of speech) of a geographic area -- re.gion.al.ist n or adj -- re.gion.al.is.tic adj