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 of region

• area
• 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

Once a deeply impoverished and remote region, Fuping county has been a posterchild for success in Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s poverty alleviation campaign over the previous decade – and officials are keen to continue to find ways to boost growth. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

The adviser told me that, even without drastically expanding the budget or upending the financial markets, Burnham could borrow a bit more to finance public-infrastructure investments and channel money to depressed regions. — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

Our region’s growth markets in healthcare, education, logistics and financial services are concentrated in communities that reflect these graduates’ backgrounds and experiences. — Andrea Sáenz, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026

As a perk of living in the Catalonia region of Spain, foreigners who are under temporary residency are eligible for public health care, which Beth also has. — Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

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 2b

Phrases Containing region

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

Rhymes for region

• legion
• collegian
• norwegian
• subregion

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