provenance

noun

prov·​e·​nance ˈpräv-nən(t)s 

ˈprä-və-ˌnän(t)s

1

: origin, source

2

: the history of ownership of a valued object or work of art or literature

Examples of provenance in a Sentence

Has anyone traced the provenances of these paintings?

The artifact is of unknown provenance.

Recent Examples on the Web

They were repatriated through cooperation between Indonesia’s Culture Ministry and the FBI after provenance research established the objects had been smuggled out of Indonesia, Zon said. — ABC News, 23 July 2026

They were repatriated through cooperation between the FBI and the ministry after provenance research established that they had been smuggled out of Indonesia, Zon added. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 23 July 2026

Landay says that uncertainty should make organizations cautious about adopting models whose provenance cannot be fully examined. — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 23 July 2026

The berries were on their way to becoming Daytrip Strawberry Amaro, which, like most things created here, has its own local provenance. — Molly Fergus, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from provenir to come forth, originate, from Latin provenire, from pro- forth + venire to come — more at pro-, come

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined at sense 1