1. a person who advocates for or emphasizes the interests of a particular group, region, or locality over broader or universal concerns
Usage: political science; philosophy
2. a person who focuses on specific details rather than general principles

Examples

• The particularist argued that local communities should have more control over their own affairs.
• As a particularist, she believed that regional traditions were more important than national policies.
• The debate pitted universalists against particularists over immigration policy.
• His particularist approach to the problem focused on individual cases rather than broad solutions.
• The particularist movement gained support among voters who felt ignored by the federal government.
• She was criticized for being too much of a particularist and not seeing the bigger picture.