province

province — noun

1. A territorial division inside a country, set up by the central government and us

1.nounB1
Definition

A territorial division inside a country, set up by the central government and usually given some local decision-making authority over matters such as education, health care, or transportation.

Example

Quinn moved from Toronto to Vancouver after taking a job in the province of British Columbia.

the province of [proper name]

Each province in Canada runs its own health care system and sets its own education policies.

province + possessive: runs its own

Common collocations
  • province of [name]
  • across the province
  • in the province
  • provincial capital
  • provincial government
Synonyms
  • state

    Used for federal units in countries like the US, Mexico, or India; 'province' is preferred in Canada, China, and some European countries.

  • region

    A broader term that does not always imply formal administrative or political boundaries.

  • territory

    Often refers to an area that does not have the same self-governing rights as a province, e.g. Canada's northern territories.

Grammar Patterns

the province of [name]

Common Mistakes

Taiwan is a province of China.
Taiwan is an island off the coast of China.
Calling Taiwan a 'province' is a politically charged statement; use neutral geographic wording in non-political contexts.

2. The four large historical divisions of the island of Ireland — Ulster, Munster,

2.nounB2
Definition

The four large historical divisions of the island of Ireland — Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connacht — each of which contains several counties and has its own cultural and sporting traditions.

Example

Luca's family comes from County Cork, which is in the province of Munster in the south of Ireland.

in the province of [name] — Irish context

Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, and part of it now forms Northern Ireland.

one of the four provinces of Ireland

Common collocations
  • four provinces of Ireland
  • province of Ulster/Munster/Leinster/Connacht

Grammar Patterns

the province of [name]

Usage Note

This sense is almost exclusively used when speaking about Irish geography, sports, or history. It does NOT refer to a modern governmental unit — the Republic of Ireland is divided into counties, not provinces for administrative purposes.

3. A large church district under the authority of an archbishop, comprising a group

3.nounC1
Definition

A large church district under the authority of an archbishop, comprising a group of smaller districts called dioceses that together form a single regional unit within a Christian denomination.

Example

The archbishop of Canterbury oversees the ecclesiastical province of Canterbury, which includes thirty dioceses.

ecclesiastical province + number of dioceses

Each ecclesiastical province in the Anglican Communion elects its own bishops and meets in synod.

Common collocations
  • ecclesiastical province
  • the province of [Canterbury/York]
  • metropolitan province
  • provincial synod
Synonyms
  • diocese

    A smaller unit within a province; a province contains multiple dioceses.

  • archdiocese

    A very large diocese usually headed by an archbishop; may be synonymous with a province in some contexts.

Grammar Patterns

ecclesiastical province

province of [church name]

Usage Note

In Catholicism and Anglicanism, an ecclesiastical province is led by an archbishop or metropolitan. Do not confuse this sense with sense 1 — a church province and a political province may have completely different boundaries.

4. A name used for Northern Ireland when considered as a distinct political region

4.nounB2
Definition

A name used for Northern Ireland when considered as a distinct political region of the United Kingdom, especially in news reports, government documents, and historical writing.

Example

The Province has its own devolved government in Belfast that handles health, education, and transport.

the Province + has + devolved government

Justin visited the Province last summer to study how schools there teach history.

Common collocations
  • the Province
  • the Province's [government/economy/assembly]
Synonyms
  • Northern Ireland

    The official name; 'the Province' is a journalistic and colloquial shorthand.

  • Ulster

    Sometimes used loosely but historically covers nine counties, six of which are in Northern Ireland (three in the Republic). Imprecise and can be politically loaded.

Grammar Patterns

the Province

Usage Note

Always written with a capital P when referring specifically to Northern Ireland. In news headlines and formal writing, 'the Province' is a common shorthand. Outside the UK and Ireland, this usage may be unfamiliar to readers.

Common Mistakes

The province of Northern Ireland joined the UK in 1921.
Northern Ireland
often called the Province — became part of the United Kingdom in 1921.' — 'the Province' is a nickname, not a formal title.

5. Every region of a country situated away from its main capital city, commonly reg

5.nounB2
Definition

Every region of a country situated away from its main capital city, commonly regarded as more traditional, less fashionable, or more relaxed in lifestyle than the capital.

Example

Talia grew up in the provinces and moved to London when she turned eighteen for university.

grew up in the provinces + moved to capital

The newspaper employs reporters in the provinces as well as in the capital to cover national stories.

Common collocations
  • the provinces
  • in the provinces
  • from the provinces
  • people in the provinces
  • life in the provinces
Synonyms
  • the countryside

    Emphasises rural scenery and agriculture; 'the provinces' can include smaller cities and towns too.

  • the regions

    A more neutral term common in business and politics, without the slightly dismissive tone of 'the provinces'.

  • rural areas

    More literal and geographic, without the cultural implication of being secondary to the capital.

Antonyms
  • the capital

    The central city that 'the provinces' are contrasted with.

  • the metropolis

    A formal or literary word for a large, important city, especially the capital.

Grammar Patterns

the provinces

Usage Note

Used almost exclusively in the plural form 'the provinces'. Often carries a slight implication that the capital city is culturally central and the rest of the country is peripheral. This sense is more common in British English than American English.

Common Mistakes

I live in a province.' (when meaning 'outside the capital')
I live in the provinces.
This sense is always plural and usually takes the definite article 'the'.

6. A specific subject, type of work, or set of decisions that a person or group is

6.nounC1
Definition

A specific subject, type of work, or set of decisions that a person or group is responsible for or best equipped to handle.

Example

Deciding the annual budget falls within the province of the finance committee.

falls within the province of [group]

Iker admitted that medical questions are not his province and suggested asking a doctor.

[possessive] province — not someone's province

Common collocations
  • [possessive] province
  • within someone's province
  • the province of [someone]
  • not my province
  • falls within the province of
Synonyms
  • domain

    More common in everyday language; 'province' is more formal and slightly literary.

  • field

    Focuses on a subject area; less emphasis on authority or ownership.

  • area of expertise

    More transparent and widely used in business and academic writing.

  • remit

    Common in British English for official responsibilities; more formal than 'province'.

Grammar Patterns

[possessive] province

within someone's province

be the province of [someone]

Usage Note

Often used in negative constructions ('not my province', 'not within my province') to politely indicate something falls outside one's expertise or authority. This sense is typically non-count and appears with a possessive determiner or in the pattern 'the province of + noun phrase'.

Common Mistakes

This is not my province.' (without context)
This is not within my province
you should ask the HR department.' — The meaning is clearer when paired with a suggestion about who can help.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/6

All four words describe an area of activity or knowledge that someone owns or is responsible for, but they differ in formality and emphasis. 'Province' is the most formal and slightly literary — it often appears in negative constructions ('not my province') to politely decline involvement. 'Domain' is more common in intellectual contexts ('the domain of art history') and has a neutral tone. 'Field' is the most everyday word, used broadly for academic disciplines, professions, and interests ('She works in the field of renewable energy'). 'Remit' is chiefly British and refers specifically to the official responsibilities of a person or committee ('That falls outside my remit'). When declining to answer a question, a polite speaker might say 'I am afraid that is not within my province' (very formal), 'That is not really my field' (neutral), or 'That is outside my remit' (British business).

province ↗domain ↗field ↗remit

Common collocations

Nouns

  • provincial government
  • provincial capital
  • provincial border
  • provincial election
  • provincial law

Phrases

  • the province of [name]
  • across the province
  • within someone's province
  • be the province of [someone]
  • in the provinces (sense 5: outside the capital)

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'province' entered English through Old French from the Latin 'provincia', which originally meant a territory or region brought under Roman control outside Italy. In ancient Rome, a provincia was an area assigned to a magistrate or proconsul to govern. Over time the meaning broadened from 'foreign territory under Roman rule' to any administrative division of a country. By the 14th century it was being used in English for church regions as well. The meaning 'area of responsibility' (sense 6) developed in the 17th century from the idea that a province was a region 'belonging to' a particular governor — the sense of ownership was then extended metaphorically to knowledge and duty.