provincial
pruh-VIHN-shuhl
Provincial (adj) means relating to or typical of a province, especially a region outside the capital or main city. Example: “Her provincial accent made the city crowd smile when she first arrived.”
adj
1
Relating to or typical of a province, especially a region outside the capital or main city.
"Her provincial accent made the city crowd smile when she first arrived."
"The provincial government controls its own budget for schools and roads."
"She grew up in a small provincial town before moving to the capital."
2
Narrow-minded or unsophisticated, as if shaped by a limited, small-town outlook.
"His provincial attitudes seemed out of place at the international conference."
"Critics dismissed the film as provincial and out of touch with modern tastes."
"Some people saw his refusal to try foreign food as rather provincial."
noun
1
Someone from a province, especially one seen as unsophisticated compared to city dwellers.
"The city folk looked down on the provincials who came to visit."
"The novel mocks a snobbish city family and the provincials they meet."
"As a provincial in the big city, he found everything overwhelming at first."
How to use provincial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "relating to a province/region" (neutral) or "small-minded, unsophisticated" (a bit insulting), depending on context.
Common mistake
The negative sense (narrow-minded) can sound snobbish — use carefully when describing people or places.
Common pairings
provincial government
provincial town
provincial attitude
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Word forms
- Plural
- provincials
- Comparative
- more provincial
- Superlative
- most provincial
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ accent made the city crowd smile when she first arrived.
Etymology
From Old French provincial, from Latin provincialis, "belonging to a province" — built from provincia plus the adjective ending -ial.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for provincial
See all rhymes for provincial →Frequently asked questions
What does “provincial” mean?
The word “provincial” means relating to or typical of a province, especially a region outside the capital or main city. In plain terms, either "relating to a province/region" (neutral) or "small-minded, unsophisticated" (a bit insulting), depending on context.
How do you pronounce “provincial”?
“Provincial” is pronounced pruh-VIHN-shuhl (/pɹəˈvɪn(t)ʃəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “provincial” in a sentence?
Here is “provincial” used in a sentence: “The provincial government controls its own budget for schools and roads.”
What part of speech is “provincial”?
Depending on how it is used, “provincial” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “provincial” come from?
The word “provincial” comes from Latin. From Old French provincial, from Latin provincialis, "belonging to a province" — built from provincia plus the adjective ending -ial.
Is “provincial” a common word?
“Provincial” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “provincial” have?
“Provincial” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to or typical of a province, especially a region outside the capital or main city.
Is provincial an insult?
It can be. When provincial describes a person or their attitudes, it usually means narrow-minded or unsophisticated, as if shaped by a limited small-town outlook, and it is often condescending. When it simply relates to a province — provincial government, provincial capital — it is a neutral, administrative word.
What is the difference between provincial and parochial?
Both can mean narrow in outlook. Parochial, from the word for a church parish, stresses concern only with one's own small local area, while provincial stresses a lack of sophistication compared with the capital or a big city. A parochial view ignores the wider world; a provincial taste seems unworldly or unfashionable.
What is the difference between provincial and rural?
Rural is a neutral word for the countryside as opposed to towns and cities. Provincial refers to the regions outside a country's capital or main city, and unlike rural it often carries a judgement about outlook or sophistication rather than describing the landscape.
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