If you describe an institution or a group of people as clubby, you mean that all the people in it are friendly with each other and do not welcome other people in.
[informal]
Politics is clubby, careerist, and cynical.
clubby in British English
(ˈklʌbɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: -bier or -biest
1.
sociable, esp effusively so
2.
exclusive or cliquish
Derived forms
clubbily (ˈclubbily)
adverb
clubby in American English
(ˈklʌbi)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈclubbier or ˈclubbiest Informal
1.
friendly or sociable, esp. in an effusive way
2.
restricted, clannish, or exclusive, as some clubs are
Examples of 'clubby' in a sentence
clubby
At the sight of Evandar it whimpered, holding out clawed and clubby paws.
Kerr, Katharine A TIME OF WAR (2002)
The atmosphere was clubby and expensive, which was a spectacular contrast from the apartment where Hoffman lived.
Stuart Harrison BETTER THAN THIS (2002)
It was cool under the porch, and the dirt smelled comfortable, the candles smelled clubby and familiar.