region

noun

re·​gion ˈrē-jən 

1

: an administrative area, division, or district

especially : the basic administrative unit for local government in Scotland

2

a

: an indefinite area of the world or universe

b

: a broad geographic area distinguished by similar features

c(1)

: a major world area that supports a characteristic fauna

(2)

: an area characterized by the prevalence of one or more vegetational climax types

3

a

: any of the major subdivisions into which the body or one of its parts is divisible

b

: an indefinite area surrounding a specified body part

a pain in the region of the heart

4

: a sphere of activity or interest : field

5

: any of the zones into which the atmosphere is divided according to height or the sea according to depth

6

: an open connected set together with none, some, or all of the points on its boundary

a simple closed curve divides a plane into two regions

Synonyms

• area
• demesne
• field
• zone

Examples of region in a Sentence

The bird returns to this region every year.

He's the company sales manager for the entire Southwest region.

She has a pain in the lower back region.

attempts to go outside of London and stimulate cultural life in the regions

Recent Examples on the Web

That the conflict is taking place in what’s known as the Holy Land, a region fraught with overlapping significance for multiple religions, complicates the situation. —Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 30 Apr. 2024

In Europe, Champagne makers came together in the 19th century to prevent sparkling wine makers operating elsewhere from using the French region’s name for their beverage. —Audrey McAvoy, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2024

The inundations have also caused the deaths of hundreds of farm animals, and have damaged or destroyed thousands of acres of farmland in a region already dealing with the severe effects of climate change and some poor infrastructure. —Emma Bubola, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2024

In the Washington region, completions among high school seniors are down 35% from the previous year in Maryland, about 33% in the District of Columbia and almost 30% in Virginia. —Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, arkansasonline.com, 28 Apr. 2024

When heavy rain occurs, there is a risk of flooding, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone regions. —Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2024

The seafood originated in various regions and ended up in a Portsmouth market. —Brian Mastroianni, Health, 26 Apr. 2024

According to Gallus, computer models of tornadoes have shown that the strongest winds could lie just 15 feet above the ground—their most brutal region lining up with the height of homes and buildings. —Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024

The proposal, called regionalization, essentially would allow different geographic regions — North America, Europe, Africa, and the Philippines — to make their own rules about ministry. —Jason Derose, NPR, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English regioun, from Anglo-French regiun, from Latin region-, regio line, direction, area, from regere to direct

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing region

• critical region
• D region
• E region
• F region
• (somewhere) in the region of

Kids Definition

region

noun

re·​gion ˈrē-jən 

1

: an area, division, or district of administration

2

a

: a part, portion, or area having no fixed boundaries

darker regions of the night sky

b

: a broad geographic area

never visited the southwestern region of the U.S.

3

: an indefinite area surrounding a specified body part

a pain in the region of the heart

4

: a set of points any two of which can be connected by a line lying wholly within the set together with none, some, or all of the points on its boundary

a rectangular region

Medical Definition

region

noun

re·​gion ˈrē-jən 

1

: any of the major subdivisions into which the body or one of its parts is divisible

the nine regions of the abdomen

2

: an indefinite area surrounding a specified body part

a pain in the region of the heart