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.
Tracy Bush, co-director of Provenance Potatoes in Kent, says poor weather has had a lot to do with the price of spuds going up in recent years.
From BBC • Dec. 15, 2024
Google is joining the steering committee for one such group, the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity, or C2PA.
From New York Times • Feb. 8, 2024
A: This is my thing, and I stand behind this: Provenance is more important than the painting itself.
From Washington Post • Feb. 4, 2023
‘Particular Histories: Provenance Research in African Arts’ Efforts to trace the origins of works of art from colonial-era Africa are detailed in this exhibition on view through Nov. 13.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 2, 2022
The Author Provenance and authorship of Grail romantic tradition.
From From Ritual to Romance by Weston, Jessie Laidlay
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.
