provincial

1 of 2

noun

pro·​vin·​cial prə-ˈvin(t)-shəl 

1

: the superior of a province of a Roman Catholic religious order

2

: one living in or coming from a province

3

a

: a person of local or restricted interests or outlook

b

: a person lacking urban polish or refinement

provincial

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or coming from a province

2

a

: limited in outlook : narrow

b

: lacking the polish of urban society : unsophisticated

3

: of or relating to a decorative style (as in furniture) marked by simplicity, informality, and relative plainness

especially : french provincial

provincially

prə-ˈvin(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Noun

• bumpkin
• chawbacon
• churl
• clodhopper
• cornball
• countryman
• hayseed
• hick
• rube
• rustic
• yokel

Adjective

• illiberal
• insular
• Lilliputian
• little
• narrow
• narrow-minded
• parochial
• petty
• picayune
• sectarian
• small
• small-minded

Examples of provincial in a Sentence

Noun

the confidence man figured that fleecing these provincials would be easy

Adjective

She speaks with a provincial accent.

an artist who has been criticized for being provincial and old-fashioned

His provincial attitude was a source of irritation for her.

She is too provincial to try foreign foods.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Sanders is a Catholic priest and former Augustinian provincial in California and lives in the Augustinian community in North Park. —Gary Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025

The same year, he was appointed as a provincial for the order. —Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025

Adjective

However, the identity of the animal that left the fossils has remained a mystery, even as it [was] declared BC’s provincial fossil in 2023. —Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 23 May 2025

One person recently retired after 25 years at a provincial phone company. —Karen Fonseth, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

in sense 1, from Middle English, from Anglo-French or Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin provincialis, from provincia ecclesiastical province; in other senses, from Latin provincialis, from provincia province

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing provincial

• French provincial
• inter-provincial

Rhymes for provincial

• interprovincial

Kids Definition

provincial

1 of 2 noun

pro·​vin·​cial prə-ˈvin-chəl 

1

: a person living in or coming from a province

2

: a provincial person

provincial

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or coming from a province

2

a

: limited in outlook : narrow

b

: lacking the ways and manners of city people

3

: of or relating to a style (as in furniture) marked by simple design and plain decoration

a French provincial table

provinciality

-ˌvin-chē-ˈal-ət-ē

noun

provincially

-ˈvinch-(ə-)lē 

adverb