• a principal administrative division of a country or empire

Synonyms: territory, region, state, department, canton, area, district, sector, zone, division, administrative district/division/unit/area

• the whole of a country outside the capital, especially when regarded as lacking in sophistication or culture

Synonyms: non-metropolitan areas/counties, the rest of the country, middle England/America, rural areas/districts, the countryside, the backwoods, the wilds, the wilderness, the back of beyond

• an area of special knowledge, interest, or responsibility

Synonyms: area of responsibility, area of activity, area of interest, area of knowledge, area, department, responsibility, sphere, world, realm, field, discipline, domain, territory, orbit, preserve, business, affair, line of business, line, speciality, forte, charge, concern, worry, duty, jurisdiction, authority