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 El Fasher in western Darfur, and Kadugli in South Kordofan province, are now officially suffering from famine, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed on Monday. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 3 Nov. 2025 The other locations were in parts of South and West Kordofan provinces that have since also fallen into RSF hands. NPR, 3 Nov. 2025 In Palma Soriano, a town in Santiago de Cuba province directly hit by the hurricane, many lost their homes, Adriano Valagussa, a Catholic priest at the Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, told the Miami Herald. Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025 The ad campaign in question was rolled out earlier this month by the Canadian province of Ontario. Alex Ederson, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for province
Recent Examples of Synonyms for province
Noun
  • Avoid puddles - Driving into puddles or low rainwater areas can lead to vehicles hydroplaning or losing control.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Teams that may have some postseason games to play are certainly showing themselves as playoff scenarios take shape in KC-area and regional college football.
    The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • On Friday, two federal judges ordered SNAP benefits to be paid from the department's contingency fund, but confusion continued over the issue Tuesday.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Ausberry said at a press conference last week that LSU and its athletic department are not broken.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • At Sportico’s Invest in Sports conference, industry leaders discussed how their businesses have entered new territories, built new lines of business, embraced fresh investment strategies and even considered entering into the realm of the absurd.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2025
  • This quiz will test your knowledge of the strange, shadowy realm of dark matter.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • In contrast, new Virginia-class submarines with the Virginia Payload Module (VPM) will carry the same number, providing long-range strike options across air, land, and maritime domains.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Frankenstein the novel passed into the public domain long before Universal got ahold of it.
    Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The neutral tones and organic elements of the hotel’s 349 rooms and suites soothe the spirit and mirror the otherworldly atmosphere of the Riviera Maya.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Depending on which elements are involved, airglow can appear in subtle shades of green, red or orange.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • With war looming and chaos consuming the kingdom —drawing in the ruthless kings of other Scandinavian countries and even a powerful English ruler — the stage is set for a thundering, cataclysmic, compelling, and utterly magical new Norse saga.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Snowmaking machines at the kingdom will pump out 100 tons of snow every 24 hours.
    Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Fears shot 0 of 7 from the field, scoring four points on six free-throw attempts, but tallied nine assists.
    Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Nebraska tied the game with an extra point after Missouri students rushed the field, celebrating an apparent victory.
    The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • In addition to arts and culture, quiet walks along the white-sand beaches at Gulf Island National Seashore, Perdido Key State Park, Quietwater Beach, and Big Lagoon State Park are in order.
    Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Going for a short walk may also help.
    Alexandria Nyembwe, Health, 7 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Province.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/province. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on province

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