Definition of provincenext

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 Further east, in the coastal province of Rayong abutting a major industrial belt, authorities ordered evacuations on Monday after flood waters swelled two reservoirs beyond their capacity. — Reuters, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026 Along the way, visitors can learn about the Mi’kmaq, the Indigenous First Nations inhabitants of Canada’s Atlantic provinces; the French and English influence along the coast; and the region’s reliance on fishing. — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2026 The Asian giant also boasts of the High Energy Photon Source in Beijing and Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility and began construction of the Hefei Advanced Light Facility (HALF) in Anhui province in 2023. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026 In Utrecht province, home to the Netherlands’ largest science park, no new grid connections have been available since July, and the freeze could last until 2031. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for province
Recent Examples of Synonyms for province
Noun
  • Production has wrapped in the New York and New Jersey area, and the film is expected to release in 2027.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Democratic and Republican 2028 contenders alike have been heading to battleground states and districts to boost their names with voters, show campaigning prowess, and make key political allies across important areas of the country.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • For example, in 2023, commercial insurers paid more than $2,500 on average for colonoscopies performed in a hospital outpatient department in Massachusetts, according to state data.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Cosmic Talents, which represents leading international heads of department, is opening a London office.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • But surprisingly large realms of online speech remained wide open.
    — Howard W. French, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Getty Images Meta’s new artificial intelligence agent Muse promises to make everything from booking appointments to building playlists easier, but its rollout of agentic shopping, in particular, has the tech and retail realms buzzing.
    — Caleigh Keating, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Both execs are well-liked and respected, and both boast tremendous domains, consisting of both studios and networks.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The film has been in the public domain since its original release due to an error by its original distributor.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • One of the most jarring elements of Baird’s documentary — as with most nonfiction projects about Palestinians released in the last few years — is how much of the language featured in the film echoes the contemporary moment.
    — Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Colman was dressed in another suiting moment that incorporated casual elements like oversized jeans.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Samuel, or Samuil in Bulgarian, was a warrior emperor who battled the Byzantine Empire to expand his kingdom but was ultimately defeated and died shortly afterward in 1014.
    — COSTAS KANTOURIS, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • That has left the kingdom searching for friends beyond Washington, for allies ready to put rockets where the rhetoric is and assist in a fight Saudi Arabia considers existential.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Introduced crawling through the Trask family’s field, her black blood spattering their rich soil like a human pesticide, Cathy personifies the series’ potent blend of dread and beauty.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In other white-collar fields, like legal services or copywriting, AI is hitting labor markets that were roughly in balance.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • What to do nearby Step directly onto Ocean Drive to explore the surrounding Art Deco Historic District, or stroll across the street into Lummus Park for a seaside walk.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Franceschini was worried while the couple browsed the shops around the village before taking a casual walk onto the renowned wooden bridge.
    — Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Province.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/province. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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