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
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
Synonyms
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
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
Reuters, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Thousands of volunteers meanwhile have answered the provincial government’s call for help to clear flood debris.
—Atika Shubert, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for provincial 
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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
The city held the top spot on a real-time list of the world’s most polluted cities on Sunday after recording its highest-ever pollution reading of 1900 near the Pakistan-India border on Saturday, based on data released by the provincial government and Swiss group IQAir.
—Reuters, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Thousands of volunteers meanwhile have answered the provincial government’s call for help to clear flood debris.
—Atika Shubert, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for provincial
Dictionary Entries Near provincial
Cite this Entry
“Provincial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provincial. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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 adjective1
: 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
noun
-ˌvin-chē-ˈal-ət-ē
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