provincial
adj. · n.-
1 regional (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediaterelated to a province or a specific area of a country rather than the capital city.
pertaining to a province or an administrative subdivision of a country; often used to distinguish regional matters from national or metropolitan ones.
ExampleThe provincial government announced new funding for local schools and parks.
ExampleThe candidate focused her campaign on provincial issues, promising to address the specific economic concerns of the rural districts.
-
2 religious leader (n.) C2 Proficiency Formal Technical Religiona high-ranking member of a religious group who is in charge of a specific area.
a monastic superior who has the direction of all the religious houses of an order within a specific district.
ExampleThe provincial visited each monastery in the region once a year.
ExampleAfter years of service, he was appointed provincial of the Jesuit order in North America.
UsageUsually capitalized when used as a title.
From Middle English provincial, from Old French provincial, from Latin prōvinciālis (“of a province”), equivalent to province + -ial.