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
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 16 Oct. 2024
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
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
That year, an ensemble of forty-nine players performed the world premiere of his Fourth Symphony in the German provincial city of Meiningen.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 16 Oct. 2024
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
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 1 Dec. 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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