providence

[ prov-i-duhns ]
See synonyms for providence on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. (often initial capital letter) the foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth.

  2. (initial capital letter) God, especially when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.

  1. a manifestation of divine care or direction.

  2. provident or prudent management of resources; prudence.

  3. foresight; provident care.

Origin of providence

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin prōvidentia “foresight, forethought,” from prōvident- (stem of prōvidēns provident) + -ia, noun suffix

Words Nearby providence

Other definitions for Providence (2 of 2)

Providence
[ prov-i-duhns ]

noun
  1. a seaport in and the capital of Rhode Island, in the NE part, at the head of Narragansett Bay.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use providence in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for providence (1 of 3)

providence

/ (ˈprɒvɪdəns) /


noun
    • Christianity God's foreseeing protection and care of his creatures

    • such protection and care as manifest by some other force

  1. a supposed manifestation of such care and guidance

  1. the foresight or care exercised by a person in the management of his affairs or resources

British Dictionary definitions for Providence (2 of 3)

Providence1

/ (ˈprɒvɪdəns) /


noun
  1. Christianity God, esp as showing foreseeing care and protection of his creatures

Origin of Providence

2
C14: via French from Latin prōvidēntia, from prōvidēre to provide; see provide, -ence

British Dictionary definitions for Providence (3 of 3)

Providence2

/ (ˈprɒvɪdəns) /


noun
  1. a port in NE Rhode Island, capital of the state, at the head of Narragansett Bay: founded by Roger Williams in 1636. Pop: 176 365 (2003 est)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Providence

Providence

Capital of Rhode Island and the largest city in the state, located in the northeastern part of the state.

Notes for Providence

Port of entry and major trading center.

Notes for Providence

Roger Williams founded Providence in the early seventeenth century after he was exiled from the colony of Massachusetts. He named it in gratitude for “God's merciful providence.”

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.