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Definition of provenance

provenance

/ˈprɑː.və.nəns/
prov · e · nance
Plural:provenances
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provenance Lexical Profile

provenance Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The place of origin or earliest known history of something.

Example

"Linguists debated the exact provenance of the ancient manuscript found in the monastery."

2

A record of ownership of a work of art or an antique, used as a guide to authenticity or quality.

Example

"The auction house refused to sell the painting without a documented provenance verifying its previous owners."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for provenance

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'provenance' (the place of origin or ownership history of an object) with 'province' (an administrative territory or a sphere of knowledge).

• Nearby Words

provable
provably
prove
provenance
proverb
proverbial
proverbially

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 18th century from French provenance, from provenir ('to come forth, originate'), ultimately from Latin provenire, combining pro- ('forth') and venire ('to come').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Provenance. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/provenance
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