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

Example Sentences

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

Ahh, yes, sweet providence. —Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2022

Garcia calls it an act of providence. —Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2023

But DeTiger didn’t need the algorithm’s divine providence. —Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2022

Why agree to being an accomplice to the whims of a nonsensical providence? —Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 1 Feb. 2023

McWilliams, who made what seemed like his 100th all-name team this offseason, alluded to providence for the defensive line this season but was mum on exactly what to expect when the Blazers open the season against Alabama A&M at Protective Stadium. —Evan Dudley, al, 5 Aug. 2022

So it’s an accident—maybe an accident caused by providence. —Dennis Lim, The New Yorker, 15 May 2022

Directing the classic Russian play, which deals with the loss of one’s home and motherland, is another bit of providence. —Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2022

Nevertheless, the fleeting encounter of the emperor and the philosopher was the stuff of providence—as if the arc of history had intersected with the designs of history’s philosopher-architect. —Jeffrey Collins, WSJ, 18 Mar. 2022

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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

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