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

Ahmed, 43, who has two daughters and holds Australian citizenship, left his hometown of Syria’s Idlib province about 20 years ago to find work in Australia. —Connor Greene, Time, 19 Dec. 2025

The steamer trunk This steamer trunk formerly belonged to Anastacio Atig Omandam, a worker who arrived in Honolulu from the Philippine province Negros Oriental in January 1916. —Sam Vong, The Conversation, 18 Dec. 2025

Hugging Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast, Limón province is rich with natural wonders, from its white-sand beaches to its multiple wildlife refuges and volcanic landscapes. —Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2025

While Huabi certainly popularized the spicy condiment, people in the Guizhou province of China have been using the spicy chiles as an essential seasoning since the 18th century. —Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025

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