'regionalist' originates from the word 'region,' which comes from Latin 'regio,' meaning 'direction, district, or region.'

'region' transformed from the Latin word 'regio' and eventually became the modern English word 'region,' leading to the derivative 'regionalist.'

Initially, 'region' referred to a specific area or district, and 'regionalist' evolved to describe someone who supports or promotes the interests of such areas.