region

noun

re·​gion ˈrē-jən 

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

Synonyms of region

• area
• zone

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 on the Web

Agriculture regulators advise home gardeners to either consume homegrown produce on site or not move it at all from the property to prevent the spread of the fly to nearby regions. — Kori McNair, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026

And this option from Amazon is on sale now for Prime members, which covers over 200 countries and regions and can charge up to six devices simultaneously. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026

The agency added that the parasite is typically found in tropical or subtropical regions of the world. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026

On Tuesday, the heat wave begins in the Philadelphia region with a manageable 92 degrees. — Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 30 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Phrases Containing region

• critical region
• D region
• E region
• F region
• (somewhere) in the region of

Rhymes for region

• legion
• collegian
• norwegian
• subregion

Kids Definition

region

noun

re·​gion ˈrē-jən 

1

: an area, division, or district of administration

2

a

: a part, portion, or area having no fixed boundaries

darker regions of the night sky

b

: a broad geographic area

never visited the southwestern region of the U.S.

3

: an indefinite area surrounding a specified body part

a pain in the region of the heart

4

: a set of points any two of which can be connected by a line lying wholly within the set together with none, some, or all of the points on its boundary

a rectangular region

Medical Definition

region

noun

re·​gion ˈrē-jən 

1

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

the nine regions of the abdomen

2

: an indefinite area surrounding a specified body part

a pain in the region of the heart