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Meaning & use

region

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˈriːdʒən/
US/ˈriːdʒən/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A large area of land with shared features such as climate, culture or government.

    Grammar: Countable, often with of or in: the region of Tuscany.

    Patterns

    • a region of something
    • in the region

    The region is known for its wine.

    Heavy rain hit the northern region.

    Many tribes live in this mountain region.

  2. nouncountableformal

    An official division of a country, set up for administration.

    Grammar: Used in government contexts.

    Patterns

    • the region of somewhere

    France is divided into regions.

    The Scottish region voted yesterday.

    Each region has its own council.

  3. nouncountablemedical

    A part of the body.

    Grammar: Often with a body word: the lower back region.

    Patterns

    • in the region of something

    She felt pain in the lower back region.

    The rash spread to the neck region.

    The surgeon examined the abdominal region.

  4. nounfixed phraseformal

    A range or approximate amount, in the phrase in the region of.

    Grammar: Only in the region of, meaning about.

    Patterns

    • in the region of something

    The repair will cost in the region of five thousand dollars.

    He earns in the region of fifty thousand a year.

    There were in the region of two hundred guests.

Word forms

pluralregions

Common combinations

coastal region
The coastal region has mild winters.
wine-growing region
They toured the wine-growing region.
in the region of
The bill came to in the region of three hundred dollars.
remote region
A remote region has few roads.
border region
The border region remains tense.
region of the brain
This region of the brain handles speech.

Synonyms and how they differ

area
Area is the general, flexible word, while region implies something larger or with a shared identity.
district
District suggests a smaller, officially defined part of a town or country.
province
Province is a formal administrative division in some countries.
territory
Territory suggests land controlled or claimed by someone.

Word family

regional adjective
relating to a region
regionally adverb
in terms of a region
regionalism noun
loyalty to a region, or a local word
interregional adjective
between regions
subregion noun
a smaller part of a region

Commonly confused: region or religion? region or legion?

region vs religion

Religion is a system of belief, and is only visually similar to region.

region vs legion

Legion is a large military unit, not an area.

Practice

The repairs will cost in the ______ of ten thousand dollars.

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