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 The Hardah Dam — known also as the Haradhat Damt — is a unique volcanic crater near the city of Damt, in Yemen ‘s southern Dahle province. Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026 Health experts say the Bundibugyo strain is likely to have circulated, undetected, for weeks in the northeastern Ituri province where artisanal mining is an economic mainstay. Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 12 June 2026 Police guarding a road in Qinyuan county, in China's northern Shanxi province on May 24, 2026. CBS News, 12 June 2026 But now the western Canadian province, where the popular HBO drama The Last of Us was shot during its first season, is more assured foreign movie or TV series will tap its film tax credit while shooting locally as royalties from oil exploration and drilling once again pour into its coffers. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for province
Recent Examples of Synonyms for province
Noun
  • High-profile criminal cases in the Sacramento area involved evidence showing young people using their social media accounts, such as Snapchat, to sell or find fentanyl to buy.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
  • Villas have been constructed around the landscape to avoid any disruption to the area, and the hotel’s staff has created a seed bank to ensure that some of the rare local species in the forest garden and orchard are preserved.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • The department would eventually sue the medical school if such a resolution is not found.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
  • The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to put the measure on the ballot, with an allocation plan that will move revenue primarily to nonprofit health care providers and county health departments and hospitals, but also to Planned Parenthood and city health care departments in Pasadena and Long Beach.
    Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • In addition to digital distractions, the show's hosts have paused to address a variety of phenomena both from this realm and, seemingly, the paranormal sector.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026
  • Her Taurus moon also occupies her 12th house, an area of the birth chart associated with spirituality, secrecy and subconscious realms.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • Once a specialized capability, AI is now being seamlessly integrated into systems and embedded in nearly every domain.
    Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 16 June 2026
  • The analysis was conducted by the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, which Congress created in 2022 to investigate reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena, also known as UAP.
    Collin Binkley, Fortune, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • This exposure has helped forge a distinct cultural identity that prioritizes the integration of human infrastructure with elements of the wilderness.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
  • Eldest daughter Abby is recently divorced, and coming to grips with being a single mother, while Paige is an ambitious NYC publicist thrown completely out of her element in Wyoming.
    Cat Cardenas, Variety, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • The autonomous territory of about 156,000 sits within the Netherlands kingdom and only became a FIFA member in 2011.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
  • He's always seen himself like a prince who never became king, so the kingdom be damned.
    Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • The first regional Michelin guide for North America is heading for the Southeast – and its anonymous inspectors are already in the field.
    Laura L. Davis, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Erin's wind field will widen significantly this week, fueling dangerous rip currents and massive waves along the East Coast.
    Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • This win streak all but closed the gap, even as the Nats’ James Wood ended it with an 11th-inning walk-off homer.
    Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 16 June 2026
  • In lieu of medication, Pantoliano followed doctor's orders by stepping outside for a casual walk every day.
    Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Province.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/province. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on province

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster