1. Abbr. QC or Que. A province of eastern Canada. Originally the inhabited portion of New France along the St. Lawrence River, it became the Province of Quebec when it was awarded to Great Britain by the Treaty of Paris in 1763. In 1771 it was divided into Upper Canada (now Ontario) and Lower Canada. The two provinces were reunited in 1841 as the Province of Canada and separated once again with Confederation in 1867. French influence has remained dominant. Quebec is the capital and Montreal the largest city.

2. also Quebec City or Québec City The capital of Quebec, Canada, in the southern part of the province on the St. Lawrence River. Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, it served as capital of New France before becoming a provincial capital under the British.