Regional

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈɹiːd͡ʒənəl/

Definitions

1. Relating to or characteristic of a particular geographic area or district within a larger territory
2. Connected to a particular part of a country or territory distinct from others
3. Belonging to or associated with a defined local area within a broader geography

Etymology: The adjective "regional" is a straightforward formation: it combines "region," which came into English from Old French and ultimately from Latin "regio," meaning a direction, boundary or tract of land, with the suffix "-al," meaning "pertaining to." The Latin root "regio" itself grows from "regere," to rule or to direct, so a region was originally a stretch of territory marked off by lines of direction, a sense that keeps it tied to the idea of governing. The English adjective was borrowed from Middle French "régional," which was built on the Latin "regiōnālis," meaning belonging to a region. The French form passed into English with the sense it still carries: something limited to a particular district rather than spread across the whole country or world. A regional accent, for instance, is one heard in a certain area, and a regional newspaper serves a defined part of the country.

Synonyms: local, provincial, territorial, area, district

Antonyms: national, global, international, universal, worldwide