Provincial

Provincial is an adjective with two primary senses. In political geography and administration it denotes anything related to a province, a territorial subdivision that has certain autonomous or delegated powers within a country. The word derives from Latin provincia 'public affairs' via Old French provincial and Middle English.

In federations and other states with provincial subdivisions, provinces may have elected legislatures and executives; responsibilities commonly include education, health care, transportation, and local governance, though the exact distribution depends on constitutional arrangements. Examples include Canada, where provinces such as Ontario and British Columbia have powers distinct from the federal government; in many countries, provinces serve as major subnational units, sometimes called regions or states.

Provincial can also describe attitudes or contexts associated with the countryside or a province, implying limited outlook or sophistication, often pejorative. The term may be used humorously or critically to denote conformity to local customs at the expense of broader perspectives.

See also province, provincial government, provincialism.