region

American  

[ree-juhn] / ˈri dʒən /

noun

1. an extensive, continuous part of a surface, space, or body.

   a region of the earth.

   Synonyms:

   portion, section, area

2. Usually regions. the vast or indefinite entirety of a space or area, or something compared to one.

   the regions of the firmament; the regions of the mind.

3. a part of the earth's surface (land or sea) of considerable and usually indefinite extent.

   a tropical region.

4. a district without respect to boundaries or extent.

   a charming region in Connecticut.

   Synonyms:

   quarter, tract, site, locale

5. a part or division of the universe, as the heavens.

   a galactic region.

6. a large indefinite area or range of something specified; sphere.

   a region of authority.

7. an area of interest, activity, pursuit, etc.; field.

   studies in the region of logic.

8. an administrative division of a city or territory.

9. Zoogeography. a major faunal area of the earth's surface, sometimes one regarded as a division of a larger area.

10. Anatomy. a place in or a division of the body or a part of the body.

    the abdominal region.

11. Mathematics.

    1. Also called domain.  an open connected set.

    2. the union of such a set and some or all of its boundary points.

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region British  

/ ˈriːdʒən /

noun

1. any large, indefinite, and continuous part of a surface or space

2. an area considered as a unit for geographical, functional, social, or cultural reasons

3. an administrative division of a country

   Tuscany is one of the regions of the Italian Republic

4. a realm or sphere of activity or interest

5. range, area, or scope

   in what region is the price likely to be?

6. a division or part of the boday

   the lumbar region

7. (in Scotland from 1975 until 1996) any of the nine territorial divisions into which the mainland of Scotland was divided for purposes of local government; replaced in 1996 by council areas See also islands council

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region Idioms  

1. see in the neighborhood (region) of.

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Other Word Forms

• underregion
  noun

Etymology

Origin of region

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French regiun, from Latin regiōn-, stem of regiō “direction, line, boundary,” from reg(ere) “to make straight, guide, rule” + -iō -ion

Explanation

A region is an area. A region can be geographic — like a part of a country. A region can be intellectual — like a region of the mind. There are also bodily regions — like abdominal, thoracic, and posterior. A region is any space that is distinct from another area. The word region is from the Latin regionem which means “direction, boundary, district.” When you go to California you may want to travel north to the wine region, which will stimulate the taste-receptor region of your brain. After that, if you go south to the filmmaking region of Hollywood, you will excite the “movie-and-entertainment” region of your mind.

Example Sentences

An Ebola outbreak in the region spanning 2018 to 2020—the second-largest on record—caused over 2,000 deaths.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026

“It means everything since this region is so stacked,” said Combe, who topped Murikami’s 4:42.50 in 2007 but was just off her personal-best 4:35.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

The WHO added that countries outside the affected region should not close their borders or restrict travel and trade as "such measures are usually implemented out of fear and have no basis in science".

From BBC • May 17, 2026

"We are committed to establishing long-term partnerships in the region," said ASML's chief executive officer Christophe Fouquet in a statement.

From Barron's • May 16, 2026

“And Oceania is the biggest region in the world. We’re part of that. We’ve got big stories.”

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Related Words

• country
• district
• field
• land
• locality
• neighborhood
• part
• place
• province
• sector
• suburb
• territory
• world
• zone