provenance
gb/pɹˈɑvənəns/ us/pɹˈɑvənəns/
C1
English
eredet, proveniencia, származástörténet
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
eredet
A2
Usage pattern:
the provenance of [something]; [something] of [adjective] provenance
Scholars still debate the provenance of the manuscript.
A kutatók még mindig vitatják a kézirat eredetét.
The company now lists the provenance of its cotton on the product label.
A vállalat most már feltünteti a termék címkéjén a pamut eredetét.
She questioned the provenance of the rumor before sharing it.
Learner examples
We do not know the provenance of this old map.
Nem ismerjük ennek a régi térképnek az eredetét.
The café tells customers the provenance of its coffee beans.
A kávézó tájékoztatja a vendégeket a kávébabok eredetéről.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse provenance with province; provenance means origin or history, not a region.
Meaning
origin or source history
Collocations
unknown provenance
|dubious provenance
|questionable provenance
|uncertain provenance
|clear provenance
|trace the provenance
|establish the provenance
|verify the provenance
|the provenance of a claim
|the provenance of a product
Synonyms
origin (more common and general; simply where something began or came from)
|
source (emphasizes the place, person, or thing something came from)
|
background (broader and less precise; includes context as well as origin)
|
derivation (more technical; often about how a word, idea, or thing developed)
Antonyms
destination (where something is going rather than where it came from)
Themes
origins
|research
|information
|culture
Definition
where something came from, or the known history of its source
The origin, source, or background history of something, especially where it came from or how it was obtained.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
the provenance of [an object]; [an object] with/without provenance
The painting's provenance can be traced through several private collections.
A festmény provenienciája több magángyűjteményen keresztül követhető.
A complete provenance made the rare violin much more valuable.
A hiánytalan proveniencia jóval értékesebbé tette a ritka hegedűt.
The dealer could not provide provenance for the statue, so the museum declined the offer.
Learner examples
The old vase has good provenance.
A régi vázának jó a provenienciája.
Buyers asked for the painting's provenance.
A vevők elkérték a festmény provenienciáját.
Common mistake:
In art and antiques, provenance is not exactly the same as authenticity, but it can help prove authenticity.
Meaning
documented ownership history
Collocations
complete provenance
|documented provenance
|unbroken provenance
|strong provenance
|poor provenance
|auction provenance
|provenance record
|provenance documentation
|provide provenance
|research the provenance
Synonyms
ownership history (plainer term; focuses on previous owners)
|
chain of custody (more legal or forensic; focuses on who controlled or handled something)
|
pedigree (often used for valuable objects or animals; can imply status or quality)
Antonyms
undocumented origin (a lack of reliable records about where something came from or who owned it)
Themes
art
|museums
|antiques
|collectibles
|law
Definition
the written history of who owned a valuable or historical object
A documented record of the ownership and custody of an artwork, antique, collectible, or historical object, used to help judge its authenticity, legality, or value.
Grammar
Dictionary form
provenance
IPA
GB/pɹˈɑvənəns/
US/pɹˈɑvənəns/
Syllables & stress
proven - ance (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (proven)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: provenance
- Plural: provenance, provenances
Expressions
data provenance
1/dˈætə pɹˈɑvənəns/
fixed phrase
technical
record of data origins
information showing where data came from and what happened to it
Examples
- The platform tracks data provenance so analysts can audit each result.
- Good data provenance helped the team find errors in the model's training set.
- Regulators asked the company to show data provenance for the figures in the report.
Learner examples
- Data provenance tells us where the numbers came from.
- The system records data provenance for every file.
of dubious provenance
1/əv dˈubiəs pɹˈɑvənəns/
fixed phrase
formal
having suspicious origin
from a source or history that people do not trust
Examples
- The market was full of antiquities of dubious provenance.
- The article relied on documents of dubious provenance.
- Customs officials seized several artifacts of dubious provenance.
Learner examples
- They refused to buy a sculpture of dubious provenance.
- The report used evidence of dubious provenance.
of unknown provenance
1/əv ʌnnˈoʊn pɹˈɑvənəns/
fixed phrase
formal
having unknown origin
from a source or history that nobody knows
Examples
- The lab rejected samples of unknown provenance.
- He cited statistics of unknown provenance from a blog.
- The archive contains several photographs of unknown provenance.
Learner examples
- The old coin is of unknown provenance.
- We found a letter of unknown provenance.
provenance research
1/pɹˈɑvənəns ɹisˈɚt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
technical
research into ownership history
research that finds out where an old or valuable object came from and who owned it
Examples
- The museum expanded its provenance research after questions about looted art.
- Provenance research showed that the vase had been sold in Paris in 1928.
- The gallery published the results of its provenance research online.
Learner examples
- The museum did provenance research on the painting.
- Provenance research helped identify the statue's former owner.
with provenance
1/wˈɪθ pɹˈɑvənəns/
fixed phrase
technical
having ownership documentation
with papers or records showing where a valuable object came from
Examples
- The auction house prefers rare books with provenance.
- The seller offered the medal with provenance, including letters from the soldier's family.
- A guitar with celebrity provenance can sell for far more than a similar model.
Learner examples
- The ring is more valuable with provenance.
- They bought a watch with provenance.