A province is a large section of a country which has its own administration.
...the Algarve, Portugal's southernmost province.
Synonyms: region, section, county, district More Synonyms of province
2. plural noun
Theprovinces are all the parts of a country except the part where the capital is situated.
The government plans to transfer some 30,000 government jobs from the capital tothe provinces.
3. singular noun [with poss]
If you say that a subject or activity is a particular person's province, you mean that this person has a special interest in it, a special knowledge of it, or a special responsibility for it.
Arvo avoided committing himself. 'I'm afraid that's not my province,' he replied.
Industrial research is the province of the Department of Trade and Industry.
Synonyms: area, business, concern, responsibility More Synonyms of province
province in British English
(ˈprɒvɪns)
noun
1.
a territory governed as a unit of a country or empire
2.
a district, territory, or region
3. the provinces
4. ecology
a subdivision of a region, characterized by a particular fauna and flora
5.
an area or branch of learning, activity, etc
6.
the field or extent of a person's activities or office
7. Roman Catholic Church, Church of England
an ecclesiastical territory, usually consisting of several dioceses, and having an archbishop or metropolitan at its head
8.
a major administrative and territorial subdivision of a religious order
9. history
a region of the Roman Empire outside Italy ruled by a governor from Rome
Word origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin prōvincia conquered territory
province in American English
(ˈprɑvɪns)
noun
1.
any of the outside territories controlled and ruled by ancient Rome
2.
an administrative division of a country; specif., any of the ten main administrative divisions of Canada
3.
a.
a territorial district; territory
b. [pl.]
the parts of a country removed from the capital and the populated, cultural centers
4.
proper duties or functions; sphere
enforcing the laws does not fall within the province of this commission
5.
an area, division, or branch of learning or activity
6.
a division of a country under the jurisdiction of an archbishop or metropolitan
7.
a division of the world, smaller than a region, with reference to the plants or animals found there
Word origin
OFr < L provincia, province < ? IE *prowo- (< base *pro-) > Gr prōira, prow1, OE frea, lord
Examples of 'province' in a sentence
province
Prem Lal took leave of his family and made his way to India, to Bose's home province of Bengal, working underground.
Shah, Idries KARA KUSH (2001)
I'm here because the Warlord of Dregian Province tried to have you declared dead and your province gifted to his younger brother.
Jennifer Fallon HARSHINI (2001)
In other languages
province
British English: province NOUN
A province is a large section of a country which has its own administration.
...the country's southernmost province.
American English: province
Brazilian Portuguese: província
Chinese: 省
European Spanish: provincia
French: province
German: Provinz
Italian: provincia
Japanese: 州
Korean: 지방
European Portuguese: província
Latin American Spanish: provincia
All related terms of 'province'
Cape Province
a former province of S South Africa ; replaced in 1994 by the new provinces of Northern Cape , Western Cape, Eastern Cape and part of North-West. Capital: Cape Town
Rhine Province
former province of Prussia , now divided between North Rhine-Westphalia & Rhineland-Palatinate
Eastern Province
a province of S South Africa; formed in 1994 from the E part of the former Cape Province: service industries , agriculture , and mining . Capital: Bhisho (formerly Bisho ). Pop: 6 562 053 (2011 est). Area: 169 600 sq km (65 483 sq miles)
Northern Province
a province of NE South Africa, comprising the N part of the former province of Transvaal : agriculture and service industries . Capital: Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg ). Pop: 5 404 868 (2011 est). Area: 123 910 sq km (47 842 sq miles)
Western Province
a province of W South Africa , created in 1994 from the SW part of Cape Province: agriculture (esp fruit ), wine making, fishing, various industries in Cape Town. Capital: Cape Town. Pop: 5 822 734 (2011 est). Area: 129 370 sq km (49 950 sq miles)
Cape of Good Hope Province
a former province of S South Africa ; replaced in 1994 by the new provinces of Northern Cape , Western Cape, Eastern Cape and part of North-West. Capital: Cape Town
North-West Frontier Province
a province in N Pakistan between Afghanistan and Jammu and Kashmir : part of British India from 1901 until 1947; of strategic importance , esp for the Khyber Pass. Capital: Peshawar . Pop: 20 170 000 (2003 est). Area: 74 522 sq km (28 773 sq miles)
Chinese translation of 'province'
province
(ˈprɔvɪns)
n
(c)[of country]省 (shěng) (个(個), gè)
(s) (= area of responsibility etc)[of person]本分 (běnfèn)
Derived Forms
the provincesn pl首都以外的地方 (shǒudū yǐwài de dìfang)
1 (noun)
Definition
a territory governed as a unit of a country or empire
the Algarve, Portugal's southernmost province
Synonyms
region
a remote mountain region
section
Kolonarai is a lovely residential section of Athens.
county
He is living now in his mother's home county of Oxfordshire.
district
I drove around the business district.
territory
They deny that any of their territory is under rebel control.
zone
The area has been declared a disaster zone.
patch
colony
Cyprus, a former British colony, gained independence in 1960.
domain
the mighty king's domain
dependency
a tiny European dependency
tract
A vast tract of land is ready for development.
2 (noun)
Definition
an area of learning, activity, etc.
Opera remained largely the province of the aristocracy.
Synonyms
area
She was involved in every area of the project.
business
Parenting can be a stressful business.
concern
The technical aspects are not my concern.
responsibility
The 600 properties were his responsibility.
part
He felt a sense of relief now that his part in this business was over.
line
What was your father's line of business?
charge
I did not consider it any part of my charge to come up with marketing ideas.
role
His role in the events has been pivotal.
post
department (informal)
Sorry, I don't know – that's not my department.
field
They are both experts in their field.
duty
My duty is to look after the animals.
function
The main function of merchant banks is to raise capital.
employment
She was unable to find employment in the area.
capacity
She was visiting in her official capacity as co-chairperson.
orbit
Cora dazzled all who came within her orbit.
sphere
the sphere of international politics
turf (slang)
Their turf was Paris: its streets, theatres, homes and parks.
pigeon (British, informal)
It's a general problem, not our pigeon.
subject word lists
See Canadian provincesSee South African provinces and provincial capitals
Additional synonyms
in the sense of business
Definition
an affair
Parenting can be a stressful business.
Synonyms
matter,
issue,
subject,
point,
problem,
question,
responsibility,
task,
duty,
function,
topic,
assignment
in the sense of capacity
Definition
a position or function
She was visiting in her official capacity as co-chairperson.
Synonyms
function,
position,
role,
post,
appointment,
province,
sphere,
service,
office
in the sense of charge
Definition
a person or thing committed to someone's care
I did not consider it any part of my charge to come up with marketing ideas.
Synonyms
duty,
office,
concern,
responsibility,
remit
Synonyms of 'province'
province
Explore 'province' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of colony
Definition
the territory occupied by such a settlement
Cyprus, a former British colony, gained independence in 1960.
Synonyms
settlement,
territory,
province,
possession,
dependency,
outpost,
dominion,
satellite state,
community
in the sense of concern
Definition
something that is of interest or importance to a person
The technical aspects are not my concern.
Synonyms
business,
job,
charge,
matter,
department,
field,
affair,
responsibility,
task,
mission,
pigeon (informal)
in the sense of county
Definition
(in some countries) a division of a country
He is living now in his mother's home county of Oxfordshire.
Synonyms
province,
district,
shire
in the sense of department
Definition
a specialized sphere of activity
Sorry, I don't know – that's not my department.
Synonyms
area,
line,
responsibility,
function,
province,
sphere,
realm,
domain,
speciality
in the sense of dependency
Definition
a territory subject to a state on which it does not border
a tiny European dependency
Synonyms
province,
colony,
outpost,
dominion,
protectorate
in the sense of district
Definition
an area which has recognizable or special features
I drove around the business district.
Synonyms
area,
community,
region,
sector,
quarter,
ward,
parish,
neighbourhood,
vicinity,
locality,
locale,
neck of the woods (informal)
in the sense of domain
Definition
land under one ruler or government
the mighty king's domain
Synonyms
kingdom,
lands,
region,
territory,
estate,
province,
empire,
realm,
dominion,
demesne,
policies (Scottish)
in the sense of duty
Definition
a obligation to fulfil one's responsibilities
My duty is to look after the animals.
Synonyms
responsibility,
job,
task,
work,
calling,
business,
service,
office,
charge,
role,
function,
mission,
province,
obligation,
assignment,
pigeon (informal),
onus
in the sense of employment
Definition
a person's work or occupation
She was unable to find employment in the area.
Synonyms
job,
work,
business,
position,
trade,
post,
situation,
employ,
calling,
profession,
occupation,
pursuit,
vocation,
métier
in the sense of field
Definition
an area of human activity or knowledge
They are both experts in their field.
Synonyms
speciality,
line,
area,
department (informal),
environment,
territory,
discipline,
province,
pale,
confines,
sphere,
domain,
specialty,
sphere of influence,
purview,
metier,
sphere of activity,
bailiwick,
sphere of interest,
sphere of study
Additional synonyms
in the sense of function
Definition
the intended role or purpose of a person or thing
The main function of merchant banks is to raise capital.
Synonyms
purpose,
business,
job,
concern,
use,
part,
office,
charge,
role,
post,
operation,
situation,
activity,
exercise,
responsibility,
task,
duty,
mission,
employment,
capacity,
province,
occupation,
raison d'être
in the sense of line
Definition
a field of interest or activity
What was your father's line of business?
Synonyms
occupation,
work,
calling,
interest,
business,
job,
area,
trade,
department (informal),
field,
career,
activity,
bag (slang),
employment,
province,
profession,
pursuit,
forte,
vocation,
specialization
in the sense of orbit
Definition
a range or sphere of action or influence
Cora dazzled all who came within her orbit.
Synonyms
sphere of influence,
reach,
range,
influence,
province,
scope,
sphere,
domain,
compass,
ambit
in the sense of part
Definition
a person's duty
He felt a sense of relief now that his part in this business was over.
Synonyms
duty,
say,
place,
work,
role,
hand,
business,
share,
charge,
responsibility,
task,
function,
capacity,
involvement,
participation
in the sense of pigeon
Definition
concern or responsibility
It's a general problem, not our pigeon.
Synonyms
responsibility,
business,
concern,
baby (slang),
worry,
lookout (informal)
in the sense of responsibility
Definition
a person or thing for which one is responsible
The 600 properties were his responsibility.
Synonyms
duty,
business,
job,
role,
task,
function,
burden,
liability,
accountability,
onus,
answerability
in the sense of role
Definition
a task or function
His role in the events has been pivotal.
Synonyms
job,
part,
position,
post,
task,
duty,
function,
office,
capacity
in the sense of section
Definition
a distinct part of a country or community
Kolonarai is a lovely residential section of Athens.
Synonyms
district,
area,
region,
sector,
zone
in the sense of sphere
Definition
a particular field of activity
the sphere of international politics
Synonyms
field,
range,
area,
department (informal),
function,
territory,
capacity,
province,
patch,
scope,
turf (slang),
realm,
domain,
compass,
walk of life
in the sense of territory
Definition
the geographical area under the control of a particular government
They deny that any of their territory is under rebel control.
Synonyms
district,
area,
land,
region,
state,
country,
sector,
zone,
province,
patch,
turf (slang),
domain,
terrain,
tract,
bailiwick
Additional synonyms
in the sense of tract
Definition
a large area, esp. of land
A vast tract of land is ready for development.
Synonyms
area,
lot,
region,
estate (British),
district,
stretch,
quarter,
territory,
extent,
zone,
plot,
expanse
in the sense of turf
Definition
a person's area of knowledge or influence
Their turf was Paris: its streets, theatres, homes and parks.
Synonyms
area or sphere of influence,
territory,
province,
preserve,
patch (British, informal),
domain,
manor (British, informal),
home ground,
stamping ground,
bailiwick (informal)
in the sense of zone
Definition
a region, area, or section characterized by some distinctive feature or quality