Synonym Chooser

How is the word province distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of province are duty, function, and office. While all these words mean "the acts or operations expected of a person or thing," province applies to a function, office, or duty that naturally or logically falls to one.

I felt it was not my province to inquire — Anne Brontë

Where would duty be a reasonable alternative to province?

The words duty and province are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, duty applies to a task or responsibility imposed by one's occupation, rank, status, or calling.

it is the judicial duty of the court, to examine the whole case — R. B. Taney

When is function a more appropriate choice than province?

The meanings of function and province largely overlap; however, function implies a definite end or purpose or a particular kind of work.

the function of language is two-fold: to communicate emotion and to give information — Aldous Huxley

When can office be used instead of province?

The synonyms office and province are sometimes interchangeable, but office is typically applied to the function or service associated with a trade or profession or a special relationship to others.

they exercise the offices of the judge, the priest, the counsellor — W. E. Gladstone

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of province The epicenter of the outbreak is Foshan, a city in the Guangdong province. Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025 The southwestern province is one of China’s poorest and was among the many areas granted a carve-out under the one-child policy, allowing rural couples a second child if their first born was a girl – a concession to the country’s traditional preference for sons. Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025 But tourists tend to concentrate in the coastal province of Guanacaste, the Monteverde Cloud Forest, and Arenal Volcano National Park. Mona Gable, AFAR Media, 4 Aug. 2025 That phrase, problem solving, is what people have been saying is the unique province of humans. John Werner, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for province
Recent Examples of Synonyms for province
Noun
  • Steer clear of puddles - Driving into puddles or low areas of rainwater can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control. Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2025
  • The area’s greatest economic driver after the end of the lumbering trade in the early 20th century has been and continues to be iron ore mining.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • At both events, the local police departments showed off the skills of the departments’ police dogs.
    Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Neither Tait nor the police department immediately responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
    Rachel DeSantis, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Still, in the realm of your romantic partnerships, themes surrounding your independence and individuality (or lack thereof) could also come up for review.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Maladaptive daydreaming is a form of intense daydreaming characterized by the creation of unrealistic or fantastical situations, conversations, or stories in one’s own mind that are outside the realm of a person’s day-to-day life.
    Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Current offerings include Pride and Prejudice and The Wizard of Oz from the public domain, as well as licensed properties like The Crow from Pressman Films, titles from romance publisher 831 Stories, and science fiction from authors Alan Dean Foster, Ramez Naam, and Charles Stross.
    Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The genre was originally the domain of intelligent social theorists, but the sheer success of its films eventually devolved into blockbusters that got dumber with each passing summer.
    Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Creating Demi was not as simple as halving each element.
    Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • On the other hand, cooking methods like baking, boiling, and mashing don’t usually add these elements.
    Sarah Garone, Health, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Set to begin production by year-end, the development comes as the kingdom looks to ramp up gas production for domestic use in order to free up more crude oil for sale abroad.
    Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • However, budget overruns, operational complications and global oil market conditions have forced the kingdom to scale back or entirely shelve some of those projects, sources who have worked on Neom have told CNBC.
    Natasha Turak, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Also worth reading 🏈 Sports: The Lions-Falcons preseason game was suspended in the fourth quarter after Lions defensive back Morice Norris was taken off the field in an ambulance following what appeared to be a neck injury.
    Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 9 Aug. 2025
  • Sanders returned to the field at the start of the second quarter and delivered a huge touchdown pass to Kaden Davis.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • McLean’s performance — 5 1/3 innings, no runs, two hits, four walks and eight strikeouts — turned up the vibes.
    Will Sammon, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
  • The right-hander allowed two hits and two walks over six scoreless innings, striking out seven and getting six other outs on ground balls.
    Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Province.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/province. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on province

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