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 Guangxi is a province of southern China bordering Vietnam. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025 In 1979, when Chile was under the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet, 19-year-old Soto gave birth to the twin girls in the coastal town of Hualpén in Biobío province. Rafael Romo, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025 In its own storied past, Earth experienced prolonged eruptions of lava in single regions, known as large igneous provinces (LIPs), that lasted for hundreds of thousands and perhaps millions of years. Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025 The ultimate abode for those with an oenophilic entrepreneurial spirit just hit the market in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for province
Recent Examples of Synonyms for province
Noun
  • Those areas include voting, healthcare, and education literature.
    Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Drought continues to worsen in several parts of the country, meteorologists warned in early September as dry conditions are forecast for many areas later in the month, sparking additional fears about wildfires in the fire-prone West.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But in August, Putin signed a decree abolishing two presidential departments Kozak supervised, likely in preparation for his departure, the ISW said.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Relief pitching might be among the more volatile areas if not the department offering the most volatility.
    Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Many people go into the vibe coding realm with excessively sized expectations.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Alani iLongwe’s physical range in his portrayal of Oshoosi Size was remarkable on its own, but in the realm of off-broadway theater, it could also be seen as revolutionary.
    Essence, Essence, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In my fake Evite example, the branding looked perfect, but the sender's address didn't match Evite's official domain.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • This should include setting up monitoring processes similar to those used for brand name, trademark, patent or domain misuse, auditing the use of the company’s digital assets, and engaging with vendors that provide monitoring services.
    Chris Dimitriadis, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Taylor Raddysh signed a two-year, $3 million contract over the summer to add some of those elements, but are the young players vying for a spot on the opposite wing — Brett Berard, Brennan Othmann and Gabe Perreault — ready to simplify their games and embrace the grunt work?
    Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Despite the cancellation, the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows aerobatic team is still expected to perform a flyover later today, maintaining a key element of the ceremonial tribute.
    Amanda Castro Hannah Parry Shane Croucher Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But Danish colonial authority – now focused mainly on foreign, defense and economic policy – is facing an unprecedented challenge, and the Scandinavian kingdom is at pains to underline and maintain its military control.
    Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Thumbs-up, hearts, comments and views are the currency of his kingdom.
    Óscar Martínez & Carlos Martínez, The Dial, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Matthews immediately went down and stayed on the field as medical staff rushed to the field.
    Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
  • The Commanders are hoping to get back on the field soon, but changes are needed.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Guzman drew a leadoff walk, Bryce Teodosio singled and Nolan Schanuel drove them both in with a double to right.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Just after the Angels handed him a 6-3 lead in the top of the fifth, Farris gave up back-to-back hits and a walk to loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the inning.
    Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Province.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/province. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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