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 Teen use of cannabis rose 26% in Canadian provinces that legalized the sale of edibles and extracts in October 2019, according to the study, which published Friday in the journal JAMA Network Open. Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2025 Thursday’s strike hit the port of Ras Isa, also in Hodeida province, killing 74 people and wounding 171 others, according to the Houthi-run health ministry. Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2025 Cargo ships and containers at Qingdao port in eastern China’s Shandong province on Dec. 4, 2024. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025 Meanwhile, the virus has been detected in sewage samples around the country this year, including in Punjab province, home to around half of Pakistan's children. Ruchi Kumar, NPR, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for province
Recent Examples of Synonyms for province
Noun
  • On a day when the Kansas City attack wasn’t at its best, Miller played a key role for a back line that repeatedly came up clutch inside its penalty area.
    Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2025
  • There have been 403 measles cases confirmed in Gaines County, a rural area about an hour-and-a-half west of Lubbock.
    Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • The College For Creative Studies Fashion Design Program is recognized as the largest and most equipped fashion accessory design department in the United States.
    Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • Educational opportunities often appear in other commercial deals with universities, including in apparel deals between athletic departments and companies like Nike and Adidas.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 3 May 2025
Noun
  • In the indie film realm, sales agents are choosing to view Trump’s declarations as another tantrum.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 5 May 2025
  • The trend has been negative: As views on Trump have gotten more negative and coverage of specific cases has increased and gotten more negative, views and judgments of Trump’s policy in this realm have also dropped.
    Christian Paz, Vox, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • Environmental programs tend to be organized by geographic domain and discipline—the National Water Quality Program of the US Geological Survey, NSF’s Arctic Observing Network, and the US Forest Service, for instance.
    Eric Morgan, Wired News, 10 May 2025
  • If there was a strategic view, then India would already have a larger gamut of options going in various domains.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • Artificial intelligence was a major factor in the actors strike of 2023 and the burgeoning technology will remain a key element in next year’s negotiations.
    Peter White, Deadline, 5 May 2025
  • Morality is not a useful element in foreign policy decision making.
    Frank Lavin, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Noun
  • May is the time to invest wisely, delegate responsibly, and set the foundations of your kingdom.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 May 2025
  • The oil-rich kingdom has significantly increased defense spending since 2015, largely driven by its military involvement in Yemen against the Houthi rebels, alongside investments in modernization and advanced weaponry, including recent arms deals with the U.S. to bolster its capabilities.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Both teams’ trainers joined EMS to get him onto a cart and off the field.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 May 2025
  • Patrick, 29, and Brady, 47 — who have a history, both on and off the field — snapped a photo together at the exclusive bash, which was held at Carbone Miami on South Beach.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 3 May 2025
Noun
  • Heyward was 2-for-4 with a double in the first game of the series and drew a walk while going 0-for-3 yesterday.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025
  • Lindor and Soto drew back-to-back walks, and Arizona turned to side-winding right-hander Ryan Thompson, who plunked Alonso to load the bases with no outs.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on province

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