provincial

1 of 2

noun

pro·​vin·​cial prə-ˈvin(t)-shəl 

1

: the superior of a province of a Roman Catholic religious order

2

: one living in or coming from a province

3

a

: a person of local or restricted interests or outlook

b

: a person lacking urban polish or refinement

provincial

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or coming from a province

2

a

: limited in outlook : narrow

b

: lacking the polish of urban society : unsophisticated

3

: of or relating to a decorative style (as in furniture) marked by simplicity, informality, and relative plainness

especially : french provincial

provincially

prə-ˈvin(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Noun

• bumpkin
• chawbacon
• churl
• clodhopper
• cornball
• countryman
• hayseed
• hick
• rube
• rustic
• yokel

Adjective

• illiberal
• insular
• Lilliputian
• little
• narrow
• narrow-minded
• parochial
• petty
• picayune
• sectarian
• small
• small-minded

Examples of provincial in a Sentence

Noun

the confidence man figured that fleecing these provincials would be easy

Adjective

She speaks with a provincial accent.

an artist who has been criticized for being provincial and old-fashioned

His provincial attitude was a source of irritation for her.

She is too provincial to try foreign foods.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The gilets jaunes protests, a largely peri-urban phenomenon, inverted the roles played by Parisians and provincials in 1871. —Robert Zaretsky, Foreign Affairs, 30 Mar. 2021

Until recently, attendees at such a talk would have seen themselves as mere provincials gathering to hear a report from the great halls of power in London and Washington. —Jonathan Kay, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2017

Adjective

High in the Italian Alps, the wise but taciturn eldest daughters of a provincial matriarch, perpetually pregnant, vie for the attentions of Pietro (De Domenico), who hails from Sicily and has been deserted by the war. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 12 Dec. 2024

Fabula, co-produced in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, follows Jos, a provincial criminal grappling with personal and professional failures. —Sara Merican, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

in sense 1, from Middle English, from Anglo-French or Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin provincialis, from provincia ecclesiastical province; in other senses, from Latin provincialis, from provincia province

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing provincial

• French provincial
• inter-provincial

Kids Definition

provincial

1 of 2 noun

pro·​vin·​cial prə-ˈvin-chəl 

1

: a person living in or coming from a province

2

: a provincial person

provincial

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or coming from a province

2

a

: limited in outlook : narrow

b

: lacking the ways and manners of city people

3

: of or relating to a style (as in furniture) marked by simple design and plain decoration

a French provincial table

provinciality

-ˌvin-chē-ˈal-ət-ē

noun

provincially

-ˈvinch-(ə-)lē 

adverb