province

noun

prov·​ince ˈprä-vən(t)s 

1

a

: a country or region brought under the control of the ancient Roman government

b

: an administrative district or division of a country

c

provinces plural : all of a country except the metropolises

2

a

: a division of a country forming the jurisdiction of an archbishop or metropolitan

b

: a territorial unit of a religious order

3

a

: a biogeographic division of less rank than a region

b

: an area that exhibits essential continuity of geologic history

also : one characterized by particular structural or petrological features

4

a

: proper or appropriate function or scope : sphere

that question is outside my province

b

: a department of knowledge or activity

Synonyms of province

• area
• department
• realm
• domain
• element
• kingdom
• field
• walk
• sphere

Choose the Right Synonym for province

function, office, duty, province mean the acts or operations expected of a person or thing.

function implies a definite end or purpose or a particular kind of work.

the function of language is two-fold: to communicate emotion and to give information

—Aldous Huxley

office is typically applied to the function or service associated with a trade or profession or a special relationship to others.

they exercise the offices of the judge, the priest, the counsellor

—W. E. Gladstone

duty applies to a task or responsibility imposed by one's occupation, rank, status, or calling.

it is the judicial duty of the court, to examine the whole case

—R. B. Taney

province applies to a function, office, or duty that naturally or logically falls to one.

I felt it was not my province to inquire

—Anne Brontë

Examples of province in a Sentence

They left the city for life in the provinces.

a legal question outside the doctor's province

Recent Examples on the Web

The Perse version channels the country’s northern provinces along the Caspian Sea, which traditionally highlight a species of carp that swims in local waters. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Authorities have issued bear-hunting permits across eight provinces and are seeking to procure tranquilizer dart guns to support rangers in rural areas. — CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Rather, it was based on joint research by eight major trade union federations examining the actual living expenses of 422 workers from 28 factories in Phnom Penh, Kandal and Kampong Speu provinces. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026

In Congo, where the outbreak has spread to seven provinces, responders have faced attacks on health teams, misinformation about the virus, a failure by locals to report symptoms and rebel violence that has limited access to treatment centers. — Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin provincia

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

province

noun

prov·​ince ˈpräv-ən(t)s 

1

a

: a country or region brought under the control of the ancient Roman government

b

: a usually large division of a country having its own government

Canadian provinces

c

plural : all of a country except the chief cities

2

: the jurisdiction of an archbishop or metropolitan

3

: proper or appropriate business or area of skill, knowledge, or interest

a legal question outside the physician's province