stovepiped

USAGE SUMMARY

"stovepiped" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where information or processes are isolated and not shared across different departments or areas. An example: "The project suffered because the teams were stovepiped, leading to a lack of collaboration." Alternative expressions include "siloed" and "isolated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The intelligence report was quickly stovepiped to those officials who had an intense interest in building the case against Iraq, including Vice-President Dick Cheney.

The New Yorker

This office, which circumvented the usual procedures of vetting and transparency, stovepiped many of its findings to the highest-ranking officials.

The New Yorker

There were not yet 16 intelligence agencies, much less the post-9/11 directives for them to share information they had once kept "stovepiped," so that others could not get to it.

The New York Times

American education also tends to be stovepiped: you learn English from English teachers, math from math teachers, and biology from biology teachers.

The New Yorker

Intelligence is often "stovepiped" -- when analysts refuse to share information and sources with interagency rivals working on the same problems -- and mutually distrustful cultures abound.

The New York Times

His father, Peter, said his care was so "stovepiped," with nobody knowing what anyone else was doing, that doctors working on his head ignored his broken leg.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

They include the use of heroic front-line troops with out-of-touch superiors; rotating decision-makers too often; narrow "stovepipe" thinking; and the failure to imagine that everything could go wrong at once.Complex systems, jerry-riggedFor now, the risk is that the interim report does not get the attention it deserves.

The Economist

Standing too close to the edge, jauntily pointing out other spots he has named on the sheer rockface — "giant's foot," "shopping list," "living room," "stovepipe" — Petit is the focal point in this harsh, tremendous landscape.

The New Yorker

PERCHED on top of a fancy science building on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico is a humble stovepipe that collects air samples.

The Economist

And the sheer number of agencies may be less of a problem than the fact that most of them act as vertical "stovepipes"—an insane idea for a community that is supposed to be collecting information.

The Economist

The German counterpart of the bazooka was a light 88-millimetre rocket launcher known as Panzerschreck ("Tank Terror") or Ofenrohr ("Stovepipe").

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stovepiped" to describe situations where information or communication is deliberately channeled through specific, often unofficial, routes, bypassing standard procedures. For instance, in intelligence or political contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "stovepiped" to simply mean 'isolated'. The term implies not just separation, but also a specific, often top-down, direction of information flow, potentially bypassing typical vetting or transparency.

Linguistic Context

The term "stovepiped" functions primarily as a verb, often in the past tense or as a participle, to describe how information is selectively channeled. As Ludwig AI shows, it indicates that information is directed through specific routes, sometimes bypassing standard procedures.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stovepiped" is a verb that describes the selective channeling of information, often bypassing standard procedures. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage often carries a negative connotation, implying biased or manipulated information flow. Its primary context is News & Media, with authoritative sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker frequently employing the term. While grammatically correct, it's important to understand its nuanced meaning and directionality to avoid misapplication. Related terms like "siloed" and "compartmentalized" can provide alternative ways to express information isolation, though they may lack the specific implication of directed flow inherent in "stovepiped".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

siloed

Refers to the isolation of departments or information, similar to "stovepiped" but more general.

isolated

A more direct synonym, indicating separation and lack of connection between parts.

compartmentalized

Emphasizes the division into separate categories or sections, akin to preventing information flow as in "stovepiped".

channeled

Focuses on directing information in a specific way, sometimes bypassing standard procedures like "stovepiped".

bypassed

Indicates that usual protocols have been avoided, similar to the direct channeling of "stovepiped" information.

ring-fenced

Highlights the protection or isolation of resources or information, similar to the exclusive nature implied by "stovepiped".

restricted

Focuses on limiting access or distribution, similar to the controlled flow in "stovepiped" scenarios.

circumvented

Describes bypassing normal processes, sharing the aspect of avoiding standard channels as in "stovepiped".

segregated

Implies separation and distinct treatment, akin to how information is kept apart in "stovepiped" systems.

vertically integrated

While typically a business term, it captures the sense of information being controlled within a single, narrow hierarchy.

FAQs

How is "stovepiped" typically used in a sentence?

Typically, "stovepiped" describes how information or processes are isolated and channeled, often bypassing standard procedures. For example: "The intelligence report was "stovepiped" to key officials."

What does "stovepiped" mean in the context of intelligence?

In intelligence, "stovepiped" refers to the practice of channeling information directly to specific individuals or departments, often bypassing standard vetting processes or interagency collaboration. This can lead to biased or incomplete assessments.

Are there synonyms for "stovepiped" that emphasize information isolation?

Yes, synonyms such as "siloed", "compartmentalized", or "isolated" can be used to highlight the separation and lack of communication between different parts of an organization or system.

What's the difference between saying information is "stovepiped" versus simply saying it's "restricted"?

"Restricted" generally means access is limited. "Stovepiped" implies a specific channeling and potential bypassing of normal procedures, suggesting a deliberate directionality and control over information flow rather than just limited access. "Channeled" may be a good alternative.