'province' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'provincia', where 'pro-' meant 'before' and 'vincere' meant 'to conquer'.

'provincia' transformed into the Old French word 'province', and eventually became the modern English word 'province'.

Initially, it meant 'a territory outside of Italy under Roman control', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a principal administrative division of a country'.