province
B2Formal, Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A principal administrative division within a country or state, often with its own local government.
A sphere of knowledge, activity, or interest; a subject or area for which one is responsible or has specialist knowledge.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word's meaning operates on two main levels: the concrete (political/geographical division) and the abstract (area of expertise or responsibility). The plural 'provinces' can refer to areas outside the capital or major cities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'province' is less commonly used for domestic divisions (UK uses counties, regions). It is primarily used for foreign administrative divisions (e.g., in Canada, China). In American English, it is the standard term for the main sub-national divisions of countries like Canada. The abstract meaning is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
In BrE, 'the provinces' can carry a slight connotation of being outside the cultural/political centre (London). In AmE, this connotation is weaker, as the U.S. has no domestic provinces.
Frequency
Higher frequency in AmE due to proximity and frequent reference to Canadian provinces. The abstract meaning ('outside my province') is equally frequent in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[province] of [country/region]in [province]the province of [abstract noun, e.g., art, science]outside/within one's provinceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “outside one's province”
- “in the provinces”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in contexts like 'Our business operates in three provinces.' More likely to use 'region'.
Academic
Common in geography, political science, and history to describe sub-national divisions. Also used abstractly: 'That question falls within the province of philosophy.'
Everyday
Used when discussing travel or news about certain countries (e.g., 'We visited a province in Italy.'). The abstract use ('Not my province, I'm afraid.') is slightly formal.
Technical
Specific term in political geography and constitutional law for a type of administrative entity with defined powers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The king sought to province the newly conquered lands.
American English
- The act aimed to province the territory into self-governing units.
adjective
British English
- The provincial government faced a funding crisis.
American English
- She had a decidedly provincial attitude towards the arts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Canada has many provinces.
- I live in a small town in a province.
- Quebec is a French-speaking province of Canada.
- Marketing is not really my province; you should ask Sandra.
- The central government devolved more power to the autonomous provinces.
- Questions of morality fall within the province of theology, not science.
- The artist found the cultural atmosphere of the provinces stifling and moved to the capital.
- His research delves into the province of quantum metaphysics, where few dare to venture.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PROfessional VINCE who is the governor of a specific area – his PROVINCE.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/RESPONSIBILITY IS A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA (e.g., 'That's outside my province').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not use 'province' to translate 'область' for most foreign contexts; 'region' is often safer.
- The Russian 'провинция' has a stronger pejorative connotation (backwater) than the neutral English 'provinces'.
- Avoid using 'province' for a 'state' in the USA (e.g., Texas is a state, not a province).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He lives in a province of America.' Correct: 'He lives in a state of America.'
- Incorrect: 'This is my province of work.' (Unnatural). Correct: 'This is my area of work.'
- Incorrect: 'I come from province.' Correct: 'I come from a province.' / 'I come from the provinces.'
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'province' used abstractly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'State' implies a higher degree of sovereignty and is used for the primary divisions of countries like the USA, Australia, and Germany. 'Province' is used for divisions in countries like Canada, China, and France, though the precise powers vary.
Typically not. A province is a major administrative division, usually larger than a city or county. For a small, specialised area, words like 'domain' or 'field' are better for the abstract meaning.
It refers to the parts of a country outside the capital city and major cultural centres. It can sometimes carry a neutral or slightly dismissive connotation of being less sophisticated.
Yes. Italy is divided into regions, which are further subdivided into 'provinces' (province). However, in general English, when referring to an Italian region, it's clearer to say 'region'.