providence

noun

prov·​i·​dence ˈprä-və-dən(t)s 

-ˌden(t)s

1

a

often Providence : divine guidance or care

… a sincere belief in providence, in which their religious faith often plays a major role.

—Christine Emba

It implied that God acts freely and purposefully and that he exercises his providence over individuals.

—Philip J. Davis

b

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

put his faith in divine Providence

2

: the quality or state of being provident

Synonyms of providence

• saving
• economy
• thrift
• frugality

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

Portions of eastern, northeastern, and southeastern Massachusetts are included in the blizzard warning, covering the Boston-to-Providence corridor. —Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 21 Feb. 2026

UConn has four regular-season games left, two against rising UMass next weekend, then first-place Providence, eight points up on the Huskies, and New Hampshire March 5-6, high-value targets to move up in the NPI. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026

Providence has hired the Police Executive Research Forum to conduct an independent review of the city's response to the December mass shooting at Brown University. —Antonia Noori Farzan, The Providence Journal, 20 Feb. 2026

Saturday’s rematch was a different story, with the Johnnies outscoring Providence, 40-29, after the fight. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2026

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