Région

Région is a French noun that refers to a large geographic area or an administrative division of a country. In geographic terms, a région is defined by broad, relatively cohesive features—physical geography, climate, economy, language, culture, or history—that set it apart from neighboring areas. The word is used in everyday language to describe zones that may not have formal political status, such as rural regions or metropolitan regions, and it often appears in planning, statistics, and cultural discussion.

In political administration, the term designates a formal territorial unit with governance and responsibilities. In France, régions are the top-level administrative subdivisions beneath the national state. They group several departments and are governed by an elected regional council, with a prefect representing the central government. Regional authorities typically handle economic development, transportation planning, education infrastructure, environmental policy, and cultural affairs, within the framework of national law. The borders and number of régions vary by country and over time; France currently has 18 regions (13 in metropolitan France and 5 overseas).

Etymology and scope: the word comes from Latin regio, meaning a line or boundary, and entered French via Old French. It is cognate with the English term "region." In the European Union and other multinational contexts, regions are used as statistical units (for example, NUTS regions) to enable governance, budgeting, and analysis across member states.