providence

/ˈpɹɒvɪdəns/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: providences

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The careful governance and guidance of God (or another deity, nature, etc.).

Noun

Examples

WHEREAS it is expedient to amend the law relating to the government of Her Majesty’s Navy, whereon, under the good Providence of God, the wealth, safety and strength of the Kingdom so much depend:

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A manifestation of divine care or direction; an instance of divine intervention.

Noun

Examples

The idea was that a complete list of fully documented providences should be compiled as a cooperative venture which would cross denominational barriers.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “providence” mean?

The careful governance and guidance of God (or another deity, nature, etc.).

Is “providence” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.