region

region — noun

1. any large space on Earth, such as a continent or a section of a country with its

1.nounB1
Definition

any large space on Earth, such as a continent or a section of a country with its own government or traditions

Example

The Amazon region is home to thousands of unique plant species.

collocation: Amazon region / coastal region

Catalonia is an autonomous region in northeastern Spain with its own language.

autonomous region — an area with its own government

Common collocations
  • Arctic region
  • coastal region
  • mountainous region
  • autonomous region
  • northern region
Synonyms
  • area

    more general; any space without implying size or boundaries

  • zone

    suggests a defined purpose or restriction, e.g. a war zone

  • district

    usually an official part of a city or country with clear borders

Usage Note

Can refer to areas as large as continents or as small as a country's administrative divisions. Often combined with a proper name (the Arctic region, the Basque region).

2. a part of a country that is known for a particular feature, product, or activity

2.nounB1
Definition

a part of a country that is known for a particular feature, product, or activity

Example

This wine comes from the Bordeaux region of France.

region + of — a place known for a product

Lukas drove through the lake region of northern Italy on his holiday.

Common collocations
  • wine region
  • coastal region
  • farming region
  • mountain region
  • lake region
Synonyms
  • area

    more neutral; does not carry the implication of a defining feature

  • belt

    an area with a specific dominant crop or industry, e.g. the Corn Belt

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1, this sense does not imply official boundaries — the area is defined by what makes it special (climate, crops, scenery).

3. any section of a human or animal body, especially one where a medical issue or p

3.nounB1
Definition

any section of a human or animal body, especially one where a medical issue or physical function is located

Example

The pain was in the lower back region just above his hips.

body region: lower back / abdominal / chest region

Amani felt a strange tingling in the region around her right knee.

Common collocations
  • abdominal region
  • lower back region
  • chest region
  • shoulder region
  • pelvic region
Synonyms
  • area

    less technical; suitable for everyday language about the body

  • part

    more general; any portion of the body without a medical tone

Usage Note

Common in medical contexts. Unlike area words for geography, this sense always takes a determiner (the, my, his) and often a specific body-part modifier (lower back, abdominal, shoulder).

4. used in the fixed phrase "in the region of" before a number to mean approximatel

4.nounB2
Definition

used in the fixed phrase "in the region of" before a number to mean approximately, without being exact

Example

The repairs will cost in the region of five thousand dollars.

fixed phrase: in the region of + number

Ezra estimated that the crowd numbered in the region of twenty thousand people.

Common collocations
  • in the region of
Synonyms
  • approximately

    more common in everyday use; can be abbreviated as 'approx.'

  • about

    less formal and more common in spoken English

  • roughly

    informal; suggests a less precise estimate

Antonyms
  • exactly

    the opposite of an estimate; precise

Usage Note

Used only within the fixed expression "in the region of". More formal than "about" or "around". Always followed by a number, price, quantity, or measurement.

Common Mistakes

The cost is region of $500.
The cost is in the region of $500.
the full phrase 'in the region of' is required.

5. a particular area of knowledge, activity, or interest that someone works in or k

5.nounB2
Definition

a particular area of knowledge, activity, or interest that someone works in or knows well

Example

A rapidly growing region of scientific research today is artificial intelligence.

region of + field of study — metaphorical use for academic domain

Manuela has spent years studying the region of international trade law.

studying the region of + field of law — natural collocation for domain sense

Common collocations
  • region of research
  • region of science
  • region of law
  • region of study
Synonyms
  • field

    the most common word for an area of study or work

  • domain

    suggests a clearly defined area of expertise or ownership

  • realm

    more poetic or formal; suggests a broad area of interest

Usage Note

This sense is closest in meaning to 'field' or 'domain'. It is less common than the geographical senses and is primarily used in formal or academic writing.

Common Mistakes

He works in the region of education.' (if meaning 'He works in education.')
He works in the field of education.
'region' in this sense sounds formal and slightly old-fashioned; 'field' or 'area' is more natural.
Idioms

in the region of

idiom

formal fixed phrase meaning 'approximately', always used before a number, price, or amount. See sense 4 for details and additional examples.

The government spent in the region of ten billion dollars on the new railway system.

Vivek estimated that his house was worth in the region of three hundred thousand pounds.

Word family

  • regional
    adjectiveB1
  • regionally
    adverbB2
  • regionalize
    verbC1
  • regionalization
    nounC1
  • interregional
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Area' is the most general word — it can mean any space, large or small, with or without clear boundaries. 'Region' is more specific: it usually describes a larger space that has either natural features (mountainous region), a defining character (wine region), or official administrative status (autonomous region). 'Zone' emphasizes a designated purpose or restriction, such as a war zone, a pedestrian zone, or a time zone. 'District' is the most formal and typically refers to an official subdivision of a city or country with defined borders (school district, congressional district). For example, you would say 'the wine-growing region of Tuscany' but 'the financial district of London' — choice depends on whether the focus is on natural character or official boundaries.

area ↗region ↗zone ↗district ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

Adjectives

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Region comes from Latin regio, meaning 'a direction, boundary line, or district.' It is related to the Latin verb regere ('to rule, to direct'), which also gave us 'reign,' 'regulate,' and 'royal.' The word entered English through Old French region during the 14th century. Originally it referred to any defined area or district, and over time it developed the broader meanings of geographical areas, body parts, and fields of knowledge.