Province vs. State
Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on September 27, 2023
A province is a territorial unit, often a division within a country, while a state can be an independent sovereign entity or a similar territorial and political unit within a federation.
Key Differences
In terms of international relations and sovereignty, a province does not possess sovereignty and cannot conduct foreign relations or have its military. A state, particularly when referring to a sovereign state, has full sovereignty, can conduct foreign relations, have its military, and is a subject of international law. In federal systems, while individual states do not conduct foreign relations independently, they still retain a level of sovereignty and have more autonomy compared to provinces.
Harlon Moss
Sep 27, 2023
A province and a state are both geopolitical entities, typically representing regions within a country. A province is often understood as a subdivision or a territorial unit within a country, particularly in countries with a parliamentary system. It has its own local government but is subordinate to the central government. A state, on the other hand, can represent a sovereign political entity that is subject to international law and can also be a primary territorial unit within a federal system, having its government with a degree of autonomy.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
The concept of a province is usually found in countries like Canada and Italy, where the central government retains significant powers, and the provinces have authority over specific matters delegated to them. In contrast, the concept of a state is prevalent in countries like the United States and Australia, where states have considerable powers and operate under a federal system of governance. States have their constitution and can legislate on a wide range of matters, often having more autonomy compared to provinces.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
When it comes to governance, a province usually has a governor or a premier appointed by the central government or elected by the provincial legislature, depending on the country's constitutional setup. In contrast, a state has its governor and can have a fully functioning government complete with an executive, legislative, and judicial branch, reflecting more sovereignty and self-governance compared to a province.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Comparison Chart
Definition
A territorial unit within a country.
A sovereign entity or a territorial unit within a federation.
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Sep 27, 2023
Level of Autonomy
Typically has less autonomy than a state.
Has more autonomy, particularly in federal systems.
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Sep 27, 2023
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Governance
Governed by a local government subordinate to the central government.
Has its government, often with a high degree of autonomy.
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Sep 27, 2023
Sovereignty
Does not possess sovereignty.
Possesses sovereignty (in the case of sovereign states).
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Presence of Constitution
Rarely has its constitution.
Often has its constitution (in federal systems).
Harlon Moss
Sep 27, 2023
Province and State Definitions
Province
A region marked by cultural or governmental distinction.
The province of Punjab is known for its vibrant culture.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
State
A nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government.
The United States is composed of 50 individual states.
Harlon Moss
Sep 27, 2023
Province
A country or region brought under the control of ancient Rome.
Sicily was one of Rome's earliest provinces.
Harlon Moss
Sep 27, 2023
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State
A condition or way of being that exists at a particular time.
The building is in a state of disrepair.
Harlon Moss
Sep 27, 2023
Province
A sphere of activity or domain.
Solving this issue is within the province of the legal department.
Janet White
Sep 27, 2023
State
A sovereign political entity.
Each state has its representatives in the United Nations.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
State
One of the territories constituting a nation.
California is a state known for its diverse landscapes.
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Sep 27, 2023
Province
An administrative district or division.
The province has its governance structures to manage local affairs.
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Sep 27, 2023
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State
To express something definitely or clearly in speech or writing.
The objectives should be stated clearly.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 27, 2023
Province
A territory governed as an administrative or political unit of a country or empire.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 24, 2023
State
A condition or mode of being, as with regard to circumstances
The office was in a state of confusion.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
(Ecclesiastical) A division of territory under the jurisdiction of a metropolitan.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
A condition of being in a stage or form, as of structure, growth, or development
The fetal state.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
Provinces Areas of a country situated away from the capital or population center.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
An area of knowledge, activity, or interest
A topic falling within the province of ancient history.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
(Informal) A condition of excitement or distress
Was in a state over going to the prom.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
(Ecology) An area of land, less extensive than a region, having a characteristic plant and animal population.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
(Physics) The condition of a physical system with regard to phase, form, composition, or structure
Ice is the solid state of water.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
Any of various lands outside Italy conquered by the Romans and administered by them as self-contained units.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
The supreme public power within a sovereign political entity
The state intervening in the economy.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
An administrative subdivision of certain countries, including Canada and China.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
The sphere of supreme civil power within a given polity
Matters of state.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
(Roman history) An area outside Italy which is administered by a Roman governor.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
(Christianity) An area under the jurisdiction of an archbishop, typically comprising a number of adjacent dioceses.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
A body politic, especially one constituting a nation
The states of Eastern Europe.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
(Roman Catholicism) An area under the jurisdiction of a provincial within a monastic order.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
One of the more or less internally autonomous territorial and political units composing a federation under a sovereign government
The 48 contiguous states of the Union.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
Of or relating to a body politic or to an internally autonomous territorial or political unit constituting a federation under one government
A monarch dealing with state matters.
The department that handles state security.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
An area of activity, responsibility or knowledge; the proper concern of a particular person or concept.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
A country or region, more or less remote from the city of Rome, brought under the Roman government; a conquered country beyond the limits of Italy.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
A country or region dependent on a distant authority; a portion of an empire or state, esp. one remote from the capital.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
A condition; a set of circumstances applying at any given time.
A state of being
A state of emergency
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
A region of country; a tract; a district.
Over many a tractof heaven they marched, and many a province wide.
Other provinces of the intellectual world.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 24, 2023
State
(physics) A complete description of a system, consisting of parameters that determine all properties of the system.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
A region under the supervision or direction of any special person; the district or division of a country, especially an ecclesiastical division, over which one has jurisdiction; as, the province of Canterbury, or that in which the archbishop of Canterbury exercises ecclesiastical authority.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 24, 2023
Province
The proper or appropriate business or duty of a person or body; office; charge; jurisdiction; sphere.
The woman'sprovince is to be careful in her economy, and chaste in her affection.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
(computing) The stable condition of a processor during a particular clock cycle.
In the fetch state, the address of the next instruction is placed on the address bus.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
Specif.: Any political division of the Dominion of Canada, having a governor, a local legislature, and representation in the Dominion parliament. Hence, colloquially, The Provinces, the Dominion of Canada.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
(computing) The set of all parameters relevant to a computation.
The state here includes a set containing all names seen so far.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
The territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation;
His state is in the deep south
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Mar 24, 2023
State
(computing) The values of all parameters at some point in a computation.
A debugger can show the state of a program at any breakpoint.
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Mar 24, 2023
Province
The proper sphere or extent of your activities;
It was his province to take care of himself
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Mar 24, 2023
State
(sciences) The physical property of matter as solid, liquid, gas or plasma.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
(obsolete) Highest and stationary condition, as that of maturity between growth and decline, or as that of crisis between the increase and the abating of a disease; height; acme.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
Pomp, ceremony, or dignity.
In state
The President's body will lie in state at the Capitol.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
Condition of prosperity or grandeur; wealthy or prosperous circumstances; social importance.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
A chair with a canopy above it, often standing on a dais; a seat of dignity; also, the canopy itself.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
A political division of a federation retaining a notable degree of autonomy, as in the United States, Mexico, Nigeria, or India.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
(anthropology) A society larger than a tribe. A society large enough to form a state in the sense of a government.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
An element of the range of the random variables that define a random process.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
The lexical aspect (aktionsart) of verbs or predicates that do not change over time.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
(transitive) To declare to be a fact.
He stated that he was willing to help.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
The circumstances or condition of a being or thing at any given time.
State is a term nearly synonymous with "mode," but of a meaning more extensive, and is not exclusively limited to the mutable and contingent.
Declare the past and present state of things.
Keep the state of the question in your eye.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 24, 2023
State
Rank; condition; quality; as, the state of honor.
Thy honor, state, and seat is due to me.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
Condition of prosperity or grandeur; wealthy or prosperous circumstances; social importance.
She instructed him how he should keep state, and yet with a modest sense of his misfortunes.
Can this imperious lord forget to reign,Quit all his state, descend, and serve again?
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 24, 2023
State
Appearance of grandeur or dignity; pomp.
Where least of state there most of love is shown.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
A chair with a canopy above it, often standing on a dais; a seat of dignity; also, the canopy itself.
His high throne, . . . under stateOf richest texture spread.
When he went to court, he used to kick away the state, and sit down by his prince cheek by jowl.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 24, 2023
State
The principal persons in a government.
The bold designPleased highly those infernal states.
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State
The bodies that constitute the legislature of a country; as, the States-general of Holland.
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State
A form of government which is not monarchial, as a republic.
Well monarchies may own religion's name,But states are atheists in their very fame.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
A political body, or body politic; the whole body of people who are united under one government, whatever may be the form of the government; a nation.
Municipal law is a rule of conduct prescribed by the supreme power in a state.
The Puritans in the reign of Mary, driven from their homes, sought an asylum in Geneva, where they found a state without a king, and a church without a bishop.
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Mar 24, 2023
State
In the United States, one of the commonwealths, or bodies politic, the people of which make up the body of the nation, and which, under the national constitution, stand in certain specified relations with the national government, and are invested, as commonwealths, with full power in their several spheres over all matters not expressly inhibited.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 24, 2023
State
Highest and stationary condition, as that of maturity between growth and decline, or as that of crisis between the increase and the abating of a disease; height; acme.
I do not, brother,Infer as if I thought my sister's stateSecure without all doubt or controversy.
We hoped to enjoy with ease what, in our situation, might be called the luxuries of life.
And, O, what man's condition can be worseThan his whom plenty starves and blessings curse?
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 24, 2023
State
To set; to settle; to establish.
I myself, though meanest stated,And in court now almost hated.
Who calls the council, states the certain day.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 24, 2023
State
To express the particulars of; to set down in detail or in gross; to represent fully in words; to narrate; to recite; as, to state the facts of a case, one's opinion, etc.
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 24, 2023
State
The group of people comprising the government of a sovereign state;
The state has lowered its income tax
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Mar 24, 2023
State
The territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation;
His state is in the deep south
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 24, 2023
State
A politically organized body of people under a single government;
The state has elected a new president
African nations
Students who had come to the nation's capitol
The country's largest manufacturer
An industrialized land
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 24, 2023
State
The way something is with respect to its main attributes;
The current state of knowledge
His state of health
In a weak financial state
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Mar 24, 2023
State
The federal department in the UnitedStates that sets and maintains foreign policies;
The Department of State was created in 1789
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Mar 24, 2023
State
The territory occupied by a nation;
He returned to the land of his birth
He visited several European countries
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Mar 24, 2023
State
A state of depression or agitation;
He was in such a state you just couldn't reason with him
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Mar 24, 2023
State
(chemistry) the three traditional states of matter are solids (fixed shape and volume) and liquids (fixed volume and shaped by the container) and gases (filling the container);
The solid state of water is called ice
Sawaira Riaz
Mar 24, 2023
State
Express in words;
He said that he wanted to marry her
Tell me what is bothering you
State your opinion
State your name
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Mar 24, 2023
State
Indicate through a symbol, formula, etc.;
Can you express this distance in kilometers?
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Mar 24, 2023
FAQs
Is a province generally subordinate to a central government?
Yes, a province is typically subordinate to a central government.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Do both province and state represent territorial units within a country?
Yes, both province and state can represent territorial units within a country.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Can provinces conduct foreign relations independently?
No, provinces do not have sovereignty and cannot conduct independent foreign relations.
Harlon Moss
Sep 27, 2023
Is the concept of a province common in parliamentary systems?
Yes, the concept of a province is often found in countries with parliamentary systems.
Janet White
Sep 27, 2023
Do provinces usually have less legislative power than states?
Yes, provinces typically have less legislative power compared to states.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Can a province be a region with cultural distinction?
Yes, a province can be a region marked by cultural or governmental distinction.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Can a state be a sovereign entity?
Yes, a state can be a sovereign political entity.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Do states in a federal system have significant legislative powers?
Yes, states in a federal system often have significant legislative powers.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 27, 2023
Is a state often more autonomous than a province?
Yes, in federal systems, a state usually has more autonomy compared to a province.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 27, 2023
Do states in a federation have their constitution?
Yes, states within a federal system often have their constitution.
Samantha Walker
Sep 27, 2023
Does a state have its government?
Yes, a state has its own government with a degree of autonomy.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 27, 2023
Can the word state also refer to a condition or way of being?
Yes, the word state can also denote a condition or way of being.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 27, 2023
Are provinces present in countries like Canada and Italy?
Yes, provinces are territorial units in countries like Canada and Italy.
Samantha Walker
Sep 27, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
