banovina
|ba-no-vi-na|
/ˌbænəˈviːnə/
territory ruled by a ban
Etymology
'banovina' originates from Serbo-Croatian, specifically the word 'banovina', where 'ban' meant 'a title of a governor' and the suffix '-ovina' meant 'land' or 'territory'.
'banovina' entered English as a loanword in the 20th century via political and historical writing, used to denote the provinces created in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia after 1929.
Initially, it meant 'territory ruled by a ban', and over time it became primarily a historical or administrative term referring to the 1929–1941 Yugoslav provinces.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a territory or province historically governed by a 'ban' (a regional governor or viceroy in some South Slavic lands).
The banovina was administered by an appointed governor who answered to the central authority.
Synonyms
Noun 2
specifically, one of the administrative provinces ('banovinas') of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia established in 1929 and existing until World War II.
In the interwar period the country was reorganized into several banovina.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/12 17:32