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

• area
• demesne
• field
• zone

Example Sentences

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

The Baltic region, which views its five decades under Soviet rule as an illegitimate occupation, has seen a steady surge of support for Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion began over a year ago. —Aaron Eglitis Bloomberg News (tns), al, 12 Mar. 2023

Moscow covets full control of the industrial, coal-rich region known as Donbas in eastern Ukraine. —Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Mar. 2023

The Mexican Gulf region, which includes Tamaulipas, is the shortest route for migrants in search of a better life in the US. —Tara John, CNN, 9 Mar. 2023

The sixth was killed in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, where two people also were wounded. —David L. Stern, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2023

Hale is a Jalunji-Warra woman deeply embedded in the conservation of Cooktown, a coastal town on the mouth of the Endeavour River, and the Cookshire region in Far North Queensland, known for its abundant biodiversity. —Alicia Erickson, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2023

In operation for nearly a decade, SmartICE now works in more than 30 Inuit communities, says Andrew Arreak, its operations lead in the Qikiqtaaluk region, which encompasses Baffin Island. —Bypaul Voosen, science.org, 8 Mar. 2023

The three entities work closely together to create opportunities in the Khumbu region, where the Nepalese side of Mount Everest is located. —Tom Vanderbilt, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2023

His confidence in the persuasiveness of pleasure was rooted in the light of this particular place, this region, this land. —Adam Gopnik, Town & Country, 5 Mar. 2023

See More

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 1

Phrases Containing region

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

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

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