providence

noun

prov·​i·​dence ˈprä-və-dən(t)s 

-ˌden(t)s

1

a

often capitalized : divine guidance or care

b

capitalized : God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny

2

: the quality or state of being provident

Synonyms

• economy
• frugality
• husbandry
• parsimony
• penny-pinching
• scrimping
• skimping
• thrift

Examples of providence in a Sentence

practicing its customary providence, the snowbound family was able to make the meager stores last until help arrived

had the providence to lay in supplies before the storm hit

Recent Examples on the Web

The White House has not officially addressed the vision behind the redecoration or the providence of some of the decor. —Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025

The internationalisation of the awards season has been on full display in recent years, both in terms of foreign language movie success, voter makeup and the providence of these films. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025

There is a way forward, however, that was recently proposed by the theologian Matt Jantzen in his study on the doctrine of providence (i.e., how Christians think about God’s relationship to history). —B.g. White, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2025

Everything is either a complete accident or divine providence, the movie suggests. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin providentia, from provident-, providens

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for providence

• improvidence

Kids Definition

providence

noun

prov·​i·​dence ˈpräv-əd-ən(t)s 

-ə-ˌden(t)s

1

a

often capitalized : divine guidance or care

b

capitalized : God as the guide and protector of all human beings

2

: the quality or state of being provident : prudence

Geographical Definition

Providence

geographical name

Prov·​i·​dence ˈprä-və-dən(t)s 

-ˌden(t)s

city in northern Rhode Island that is the state capital and a port at the head of the Providence River (a northern arm of Narragansett Bay) population 178,042