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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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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