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 situation is particularly bad in the southern provinces and islands, where garbage collection is sometimes as low as 57%, meaning garbage can be left in dumpsters and trash cans for days. Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026 Lin was born in the United States, but her parents come from a small village in the southern province of Guangdong. Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026 Held up by what is essentially a helium blimp, the machine reportedly generated 385 kilowatts of electricity from 2,000 meters (more than 6,500 feet) above the city of Yibin in China’s province of Sichuan, according to a recent Euronews report. Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 19 Feb. 2026 Another email, on Christmas Eve 2010, appeared to send Epstein a confidential brief on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand province, Afghanistan. Josh Meyer, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for province
Recent Examples of Synonyms for province
Noun
  • Halverson, who grew up in the Minneapolis area near Minnehaha Park, was drafted at the age of 20.
    Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Long before cell phones, the internet, or instant communications, the storm struck almost without warning and at a disastrous time of day, especially in the Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, metro areas.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Cort Klopping said a department biologist headed to the area of the Verdugo Mountains where the attack occurred to investigate and spoke with McVay.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Hartman said the department is in touch with local and state crews regarding the wildfires, who will give them a 24-hour notice if an evacuation at Alligator Alcatraz becomes necessary.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • And even though writers — whose currency is the very non-AI realm of imagination and humor — may be in a comparatively good position relative to set designers and other physical production professionals, the mood remained bleak just the same.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Baelor, still a young man, could’ve become the greatest king the realm has ever known.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Once the domain of film students and YouTubers, crowdfunding an independent movie has now reached the upper echelons of Silicon Valley and American politics.
    Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026
  • In highly structured domains like coding or math, deeper automation is already possible.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • For tea lovers, Nijiri offers afternoon tea courses that incorporate elements of traditional Japanese tea ceremony, creating moments of calm amid the exploration of flavors.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Feb. 2026
  • The bill restricts a local government unit’s ability to impose and increase fees related to building approval and permits, among other design-element limitations.
    Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Attacks on other Gulf states Qatar and Bahrain also came under attack, piercing the kingdoms’ polished image as luxurious havens in an unstable region.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
  • The island kingdom of Bahrain said Monday that one person was killed by shrapnel from an intercepted missile.
    BRIAN MELLEY, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The Longhorns took the lead on a monster 466-foot shot to left field by Aiden Robbins, who plunked his shot off the train stationed high above the left field wall at Daikin Park.
    David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
  • With two outs in the bottom of the fifth Contreras drove an opposite-field rocket 385 feet to right center field for a two-run home run.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Two years after Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, Aidan Martinez returned to the mound for Birmingham High on Monday in the closer’s role and responded with three strikeouts and three walks and no hits in 1 1/3 innings in the Patriots’ 7-4 win over Ventura in the Easton tournament.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Gauna had a double while Moran had a home run and a walk and also scored four runs.
    Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Province.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/province. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

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