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
  • Debris was spread over a wide area and many buildings at the port complex were badly damaged, according to state media.
    Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Don’t leave without stopping into Apalachicola Bee Company to sample and purchase the area’s world-famous Florida tupelo honey See The Victorian Homes In The Historic District Apalachicola is one of the Sunshine State’s most historic cities, having been officially named in 1831.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Dugan’s criminal complaint shows she has been charged with concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest, and obstructing or impeding a proceeding before a federal department or agency.
    Kevin Breuninger,Dan Mangan, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Hegseth ordered each military department to review its military Equal Opportunity (EO) and civilian Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) programs, according to a memo dated Thursday and released Friday.
    Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Yet in our increasingly digital world, the tangible nature of oracle and tarot decks offers a rare form of material connection—something to hold, shuffle, and physically engage with outside the digital realm.
    Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Aimee used the medium of transmitting sound to establish a new realm of spirituality.
    Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • With this in mind, the startup costs listed below automatically assume that your website and domain are included.
    Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The character is due to enter the public domain in 2034.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Francis funeral less lavish but keeps some traditions Francis wanted a less opulent burial than is traditional for popes and made changes to the church's book on funeral rites, but some of the usual elements remain in place.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • For The 1st Time — At Lower Prices Fiction as a Loophole A notable element of the technique is its reliance on fictional scenarios to bypass filters.
    Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 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
  • In a field with few successors, Hill holds fast to the values of tradition, discipline, and legacy.
    Shelton Boyd-Griffith, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025
  • He was blamed for going off mission, and putting his unit and others in the field at risk.
    Colin Jones, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • After our first walk through the art alleys, my friends abandoned me for warmer pastures.
    Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Province.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/province. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on province

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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