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 force dispatched to the southern Helmand province – a Taliban stronghold and a center of opium production – initially comprised mostly British and Danish troops, before the US sent reinforcements in 2008. Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026 Ilocos empanadas, originating from the northern Philippine province Ilocos Norte, have suddenly taken the internet by storm. Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026 In addition, 19 provinces have achieved full charging infrastructure coverage at the township level, extending access beyond major cities into lower-tier and rural regions. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 22 Jan. 2026 Along the western edge of the Netherlands, where long stretches of blue sea meet shores painted with pine trees, windmills, and sailboats, lies Domburg—a 16th-century village in the maritime province of Zeeland. Katherine McGrath, Architectural Digest, 22 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for province
Recent Examples of Synonyms for province
Noun
  • The hearing also prompted an admission from the FAA that the air traffic control tower failed to warn the regional jet pilots of helicopter traffic in the immediate area.
    Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
  • For example, the higher estimates for the infamous August 2013 East Ghoutta chemical weapons attack, which saw sarin nerve gas unleashed on an urban civilian area, are 1,500 dead.
    Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The department warned citizens that snow and ice can create extremely slippery surfaces and lead to serious or even deadly accidents.
    Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • And the department had been primed to do so.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • His talent for pulling music out of phase, bending instruments to his will and inspiring the room into new realms really pushed Maren and me to summon fresh melodies and new stories out of our writing.
    Melinda Newman, Billboard, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Indeed, in the elevated realm of whiskey auctioneering new benchmarks are still being set in 2026.
    Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Purpose, experience, and domain mastery aren’t being displaced here; they’re being leveraged.
    Sanjay Srivastava, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
  • In 2019, the Hospital for Sick Children lost control of Motherisk’s web domain after the subscription lapsed.
    Ben Taub, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Reality shows already showcase a dozen desperate people struggling against the elements and each other.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
  • The app is being developed by a very small team, and may include a biometric identity recognition element.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The move from the US payments giant comes two years after the kingdom brought in a rule that any company wanting to bid for government contracts would have to set up their regional headquarters in the kingdom.
    Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
  • That was the keys to the kingdom.
    DeAsia Paige, AJC.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • That shooting prowess carried over into Friday night’s game, as Grand Canyon began the game shooting 10-for-13 from the field, including a perfect 5-for-5 start from beyond the arc.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
  • While this idea sparked an entire field of research, experiments were long limited by the difficulty of controlling and measuring objects just a nanometer across.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Style them with black heeled boots and a black jacket for a walk around town à la Hadid, or opt for a vibrant top for a pop of color.
    Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Network over coffee instead of lunch, or catch up for free with a walk in the park.
    Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Province.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/province. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

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!