provisional
providing or serving for the time being only; existing only until permanently or properly replaced; temporary: a provisional government.
accepted or adopted tentatively; conditional; contingent.
(usually initial capital letter) of or being the wing of the Irish Republican Army that follows a policy of violence.
Philately. a stamp that serves temporarily, pending the appearance of the regular issue, or during a temporary shortage of the regular stamps.
a provisional member of a group.
Usually Provisional . a member of the Provisional wing of the Irish Republican Army.
Origin of provisional
1Other words for provisional
Other words from provisional
- pro·vi·sion·al·i·ty, pro·vi·sion·al·ness, noun
- pro·vi·sion·al·ly, adverb
- non·pro·vi·sion·al, adjective
- non·pro·vi·sion·al·ly, adverb
- non·pro·vi·sion·ar·y, adjective
- un·pro·vi·sion·al, adjective
Words Nearby provisional
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use provisional in a sentence
The spirit of the novel is one of doubt and questioning; its knowledge is provisional and its perspectives multiple.
Most radical was the 1856 provisional Constitution drafted by northern abolitionists, including John Brown.
The book opens in December of 2003 with the story of an ambush of the convoy of Coalition provisional Authority chief Paul Bremer.
Who Should Kill? Looking for Answers in Erik Prince’s Memoir | Brian Castner | November 22, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTSome students waited in line for seven hours to get provisional ballots.
It is better to at least guarantee the Palestinians a state even if its borders are provisional.
The next three months were spent almost entirely in establishing provisional juntas in the different capitals.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil | Maria GrahamOne of the provisional junta of government is the greatest slave merchant here.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil | Maria GrahamThese papers were received by the junta of provisional Government, at whose head was the Bishop.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil | Maria GrahamThe actual bridge must have the section of all members greater than those in the provisional design in the ratio k/(1-k).
To some extent the policy of the provisional Government excused his change of attitude.
The Life of Mazzini | Bolton King
British Dictionary definitions for provisional (1 of 2)
less commonly provisionary (prəˈvɪʒənərɪ)
/ (prəˈvɪʒənəl) /
subject to later alteration; temporary or conditional: a provisional decision
a postage stamp surcharged during an emergency to alter the stamp's denomination or significance until a new or regular issue is printed
Derived forms of provisional
- provisionally, adverb
British Dictionary definitions for Provisional (2 of 2)
/ (prəˈvɪʒənəl) /
of, designating, or relating to the unofficial factions of the IRA and Sinn Féin that became increasingly dominant following a split in 1969. The Provisional movement remained committed to a policy of terrorism until its ceasefires of the mid-1990s
Also called: Provo a member of the Provisional IRA or Sinn Féin
- Compare Official
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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