Short for provocation or provocateur, or referring to Provo, Utah, a city named after a French trapper.
Either shortened from 'provocation' (from Latin 'provocare' meaning 'to call forth') or from Étienne Provost, a French-Canadian trapper. The city name honors the explorer, while the slang usage emerged from protest movements.
The coincidence is striking - both meanings involve stirring things up! Whether named after a mountain man who ventured into unknown territory or used by activists who provoke social change, 'Provo' suggests bold action.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.