province

noun

ˈprä-vən(t)s How to pronounce province (audio)
Definition of provincenext
as in area
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence a legal question outside the doctor's province

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Their operational objectives included spreading insecurity throughout the southern province and executing disruptive acts against infrastructure and economic sectors. —Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025 The country appeared to hit a new high for June on Saturday when 46 degrees C (114 F) was tallied in the southern province of Huelva. —Suzan Fraser, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025 Wolves are removing elk, deer, and moose infected with chronic wasting disease — present in 37 states and 3 provinces. —Jim Martin, Denver Post, 27 June 2025 Meanwhile, a tropical depression made landfall on Thursday, June 26, first on the Chinese island province of Hainan and then later in Guangdong, per Reuters, adding that experts attribute the extreme weather and flooding to climate change. —David Chiu, People.com, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for province
Recent Examples of Synonyms for province
  1. area
  2. department
  3. realm
  4. domain
  5. element
  6. kingdom
  7. field
  8. walk
Noun
  • To give a wider perspective, Texas has the worst flood heritage in the U.S., if this is defined in terms of discharge per rainfall area.
    — Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • The Wisconsin Department of Transportation posted signs on July 7 notifying motorists that an eastbound stretch of the state highway from the Main Street area in the village to Interstate 94 will undergo repairs on three nights, beginning July 8-9 and ending July 10-11.
    — Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 8 July 2025
Definition of area
Noun
  • Responding agencies including the sheriff’s office as well as Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach and Holly Hill police departments.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 July 2025
  • Customer service isn’t a department, and customer experience isn’t just a strategy.
    — Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Definition of department
Noun
  • Thoughts: The Peril Of Cognitive Offloading And Distorted Reality The realm of thought is particularly susceptible to the negative feedback loops generated by generative AI.
    — Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • The powers of their music uplifts the human spirit, generating a shielding force field that prevents the demonic realm from invading.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 1 July 2025
Definition of realm
Noun
  • If the act of conquering land was men’s domain, the king needed women to create emotional and physical connections to the land itself, ensuring these regions remained under French control.
    — Ann Foster, JSTOR Daily, 9 July 2025
  • One blog post highlights the living room as the primary domain of antique rugs, best paired with minimalist decor so that its design can draw attention.
    — Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 9 July 2025
Definition of domain
Noun
  • Lamont knows the futility of trying to please everyone, which may be one element of his success.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2025
  • Even Portugal, who have been naive defensively but have considerable pace in attack, could threaten in transition, and Italy will need to shore up that element of their game to avoid being caught out.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 4 July 2025
Definition of element
Noun
  • The Fantastic Four are invited to visit the isolated African kingdom of Wakanda by T’Challa, the nation’s young prince.
    — Ekow Eshun July 11, Literary Hub, 11 July 2025
  • Though the kingdom’s low debt levels are the envy of most other countries, its finances are being stretched by the scale of its ambition.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 11 July 2025
Definition of kingdom
Noun
  • If finding indoor shelter is not an option: Avoid open fields, the top of a hill, or a ridge top.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2025
  • Butler, Georgetown and Villanova field football teams at the FCS level, but Villanova athletic director Eric Roedl and Butler athletic director Grant Leiendecker have said explicitly that their revenue-sharing efforts will prioritize basketball.
    — Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2025
Definition of field
Noun
  • Arizona right-hander Ryne Nelson gave up four runs on seven hits with four walks over four innings, while Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson gave up four runs on eight hits with two walks over five innings.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2025
  • Case in point, the 2024 MLB walks leader was Luis Gil, who won the Rookie of the Year Award, and the 2023 leader was Blake Snell, who earned the Cy Young Award.
    — Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
Definition of walk

Browse Nearby Words

providing (for)
province
provinces
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Province.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/province. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on province

Nglish: Translation of province for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about province

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