Meaning & use
provenance
Last updated
The place of origin or history of ownership of something, especially an art object or artifact.
See it in a sentence
The auction house verified the painting's provenance before the sale.
Archaeologists study the provenance of pottery fragments to trace ancient trade routes.
A note on using this word
Provenance is especially common in art, antiques, and academic writing, where establishing an item's documented history affects its authenticity and value.
Words with a similar meaning
originsource
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