provenance
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of provenance
1860–65; < French, derivative of provenant, present participle of provenir < Latin prōvenīre to come forth; see pro- 1, convene, -ant
Explanation
Where something comes from is its provenance. If a style of music originated in the capital of Rhode Island, you could say that its provenance was Providence. Some items of foreign provenance are taxed more heavily than domestic products. If you claim that an artwork put up for sale was stolen from your family's art collection, an investigation may be ordered to resolve issues of provenance. In this case, provenance refers to who has the legal right to the specific work of art, or to whom it belongs.
Vocabulary lists containing provenance
Hidden Figures
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Unbroken
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Musty Dusty Words for National Old Stuff Day
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The property’s celebrity provenance and distinctive design details will naturally generate significant interest,” she said.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
Pinning down the drones’ provenance is made intentionally difficult.
From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026
Joining them is a boy of unknown provenance who, the others guess, was warned by his parents to keep silent and has never spoken since.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
These pieces remain in state custody while provenance research continues, sometimes decades after their recovery.
From Salon • May 9, 2026
Pacing the length of the quarterdeck, I thought upon things I could have asked Mademoiselle Nsia: the provenance of the songs and their meanings, who had taught them her.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
