provision

American  

[pruh-vizh-uhn] / prəˈvɪʒ ən /

noun

1. a clause in a legal instrument, a law, etc., providing for a particular matter; stipulation; proviso.

   Synonyms:

   condition

2. the providing or supplying of something, especially of food or other necessities.

3. arrangement or preparation beforehand, as for the doing of something, the meeting of needs, the supplying of means, etc.

4. something provided; a measure or other means for meeting a need.

5. a supply or stock of something provided.

6. provisions, supplies of food.

   Synonyms:

   stock, provender, store

7. Ecclesiastical.

   1. an appointment to an ecclesiastical office.

   2. appointment by the pope to a see or benefice not yet vacant.

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verb (used with object)

provisions, present (3rd person singular) provisioned, past participle, past provisioning present participle

1. to supply with provisions.

provision British  

/ prəˈvɪʒən /

noun

1. the act of supplying or providing food, etc

2. something that is supplied or provided

3. preparations made beforehand (esp in the phrase make provision for )

4. (plural) food and other necessities, esp for an expedition

5. (plural) food obtained for a household

6. a demand, condition, or stipulation formally incorporated in a document; proviso

7. the conferring of and induction into ecclesiastical offices

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verb

1. (tr) to supply with provisions

Synonym Usage

See food.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• provisioner
  noun
• unprovisioned
  adjective
• reprovision
  verb
• overprovision
  noun
• provisionless
  adjective
• preprovision
  noun
• self-provision
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has provisioned
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have provisioned
  perfect
• am provisioning
  progressive 1st person singular
• is provisioning
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are provisioning
  progressive
• have been provisioning
  perfect progressive
• has been provisioning
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• provisions
  singular 3rd person
• provisioning
  participle

Past

• had provisioned
  perfect
• was provisioning
  progressive singular
• had been provisioning
  perfect progressive
• were provisioning
  progressive plural
• provisioned
  simple
• provisioned
  participle

Future

• will provision
  simple
• will have provisioned
  perfect
• will be provisioning
  progressive
• will have been provisioning
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of provision

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin prōvīsiōn- (stem of prōvīsiō ) “a foreseeing,” equivalent to prōvīs(us) (past participle of prōvidēre “to foresee, look after, provide”) + -iōn- suffix; see origin at provide, -ion

Explanation

A provision is a store or supply of something, like food or clothing. This noun can also describe the planning you do for "when something happens." We often use this word when we talk about outdoor activities like hiking or camping, or when we talk about outfitting an army in the field, but it basically means "supply." And since provision comes from the Latin word that means to "attend to," you can pretty much guess what the verb form of this word describes: the act of supplying someone else with provisions. In a legal or contractual sense, a provision is a stipulated condition or proviso.

Example Sentences

Provision for credit losses, an expense set aside to cover expected losses from loans or credit that may default, rose by $276 million to $467 million.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

Provision for credit losses fell 17% to $139 million, while net loan chargeoffs sank 35% to $162 million.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

I could have claimed Austrian retirement on my 65th birthday in 2023, but concerns about the Windfall Elimination Provision interfering with my Social Security benefits precluded this.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 4, 2025

On Sept. 13, Boar's Head Provision Company announced that it is also permanently discontinuing production of its Strassburger Brand Liverwurst, which was made at the Jarratt plant and contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

From Salon • Sep. 18, 2024

Provision was also made for house arrest, the most well-known use of which was imposed on the white political activist Helen Joseph.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• arrangement
• plan