region

noun re·gion \ ˈrē-jən \

|Updated on: 18 Aug 2018

Definition of region

1 : an administrative area, division, or district; especially : the basic administrative unit for local government in Scotland

2 a : an indefinite area of the world or universe

b : a broad geographic area distinguished by similar features

c (1) : a major world area that supports a characteristic fauna

(2) : an area characterized by the prevalence of one or more vegetational climax types

3 a : any of the major subdivisions into which the body or one of its parts is divisible

b : an indefinite area surrounding a specified body part

a pain in the region of the heart

4 : a sphere of activity or interest : field

5 : any of the zones into which the atmosphere is divided according to height or the sea according to depth

6 : an open connected set together with none, some, or all of the points on its boundary

a simple closed curve divides a plane into two regions

See region defined for English-language learners

See region defined for kids

Examples of region in a Sentence

The bird returns to this region every year.
He's the company sales manager for the entire Southwest region.
She has a pain in the lower back region.
attempts to go outside of London and stimulate cultural life in the regions

Recent Examples of region from the Web

For the past seven years, The Sun has showcased the region's Top Workplaces each December, based on surveys of their employees by our partner, Energage, which has conducted Top Workplace surveys for dozens of news organizations across the country.

— baltimoresun.com, "Deadline extended for nominations for the Top Workplaces in the Baltimore region," 14 July 2018
The canal is sinking as the Valley floor beneath it slowly caves in, brought down by years of groundwater extraction by the region’s farmers.

— dale kasler and phillip reese, sacbee, "The Valley floor is sinking, and it’s crippling California’s ability to deliver water," 13 July 2018
More than four in 10 Americans—some 134 million of us—live in regions with unhealthy particulate pollution and ozone in the air.

— rob jackson, Scientific American, "Relaxing Vehicle-Efficiency Standards Is a Truly Dangerous Idea," 12 July 2018
Satellite imagery from the National Weather Service and photos posted on social media showed winds carried the smoke 75 miles into the Bay Area, blanketing the region in an eerie yellow haze in the first days of the fire.

— javier panzar, latimes.com, "Northern California fire sparked by faulty electric fence," 12 July 2018
Moisty Mire has been replaced entirely and is now a desert outpost region, while a golf course has also been added.

— andrew webster, The Verge, "Fortnite season 5 introduces temporal rifts, golf carts, and new locations," 12 July 2018
That would allow the new owners to face less anti-trust scrutiny and target networks in regions key to their business while most likely increasing the all-together haul Disney or Comcast can receive from the sale.

— jacob feldman, SI.com, "Five Potential Buyers for Fox's 22 Regional Sports Networks," 12 July 2018
Greenhouse gas emissions vary considerably across the region, the plan stated.

— susan demar lafferty, Daily Southtown, "CMAP plan draws variety of comments," 14 July 2018
Winds on Friday are due to turn southwest, ushering warmer, more humid air into the region.

— tom skilling, chicagotribune.com, "Rise in humidity ups chance of thunderstorms," 13 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'region.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of region

Middle English regioun, from Anglo-French regiun, from Latin region-, regio line, direction, area, from regere to direct

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

region Synonyms

Synonyms

area, demesne, field, zone;

Related Words

corner, section;

locale, locality, location, locus, place, point, position, site, space, spot;

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

REGION Defined for English Language Learners

region

noun

Definition of region for English Language Learners

: a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way
: a place on your body : an area that is near a specified part of your body
the regions : the parts of a country that are not close to the capital city