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 Most of the fires were in the central provinces of Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan. Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 17 July 2026 But individual Canadian provinces usually bear the burden of buying or contracting for such firefighting aircraft, and every available aircraft has often been required to fight wildfires in recent years. Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026 That may surprise many who assume that leadership in medical practice is the exclusive province of the Northeast, Texas or California. William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 The raging waters and lush countryside that surround the foursome, however, are actually nowhere near the American midwest; cameras were rolling throughout the Canadian province of Manitoba and its capital city, Winnipeg. Michael Gioia, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for province
Recent Examples of Synonyms for province
Noun
  • Aymeric Laporte had no intention of letting Lionel Messi get by him after the little genius laid off a pass and headed towards the Spain penalty area.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • The children were taken to area hospitals, where they were all eventually pronounced dead.
    Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Noun
  • And some legal experts are now questioning whether the department is playing politics in an unprecedented way with a high-profile criminal investigation.
    Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
  • But the department still did other daytime road work around town and worked on I-285 in the overnight hours.
    Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 19 July 2026
Noun
  • Technologies that once lived squarely in the realm of science fiction are now entering nurseries, classrooms, and family life at extraordinary speed, capturing the attention of adults and children alike.
    Dana Suskind, Time, 14 July 2026
  • Some fossils are loaned to institutions such as museums, while remaining privately owned, while others wind up in private collections and disappear from the public realm.
    Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 13 July 2026
Noun
  • Saturday Night Live performances — both regular cast members and guests — used to be the domain of the now-defunct Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program category.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • Most organizations don't need AI that can reason across every domain.
    Dave Link, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Instead of crowding your entryway with a table, bench and coat rack, consider getting a piece that combines those elements, says Lynch.
    Andee Tagle, NPR, 19 July 2026
  • Electronic warfare is increasingly becoming a critical element of modern military operations, where forces must rapidly detect, identify and counter hostile electromagnetic emissions while protecting friendly communications.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026
Noun
  • Corey Hawkins as Polybus Polybus is another one of Penelope’s many suitors who scheme to take her hand and kingdoms for themselves.
    Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • Iran launched attacks on Saudi Arabia for the first time in about three months, according to two people familiar with the matter, triggering early warning alarms in Al-Kharj, east of the capital Riyadh, and at Yanbu on the kingdom's Red Sea coast.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • This story is based on dozens of interviews with Jean, her friends and colleagues, law enforcement officials, psychologists, academics and experts in the field of romance scams, as well as a review of more than 10,000 messages.
    Juliet Linderman, Fortune, 16 July 2026
  • Great game day eats can sometimes outshine what happens on the field.
    Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • Tunnel walks have evolved from viral social media moments into marketing platforms for luxury brands, agencies and media companies, giving athletes new ways to shape their identities, engage fans and expand brand visibility.
    Nethumi Kannangara, Sportico.com, 15 July 2026
  • With fervent editing, careful scene geography, and assured direction, the walk before the run can be tense enough to send viewers crawling out of their seats, willing the fugitive onscreen to get a move on already.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Province.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/province. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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