provision
Americannoun
-
a clause in a legal instrument, a law, etc., providing for a particular matter; stipulation; proviso.
- Synonyms:
- condition
-
the providing or supplying of something, especially of food or other necessities.
-
arrangement or preparation beforehand, as for the doing of something, the meeting of needs, the supplying of means, etc.
-
something provided; a measure or other means for meeting a need.
-
a supply or stock of something provided.
-
provisions, supplies of food.
-
Ecclesiastical.
-
an appointment to an ecclesiastical office.
-
appointment by the pope to a see or benefice not yet vacant.
-
verb (used with object)
noun
-
the act of supplying or providing food, etc
-
something that is supplied or provided
-
preparations made beforehand (esp in the phrase make provision for )
-
(plural) food and other necessities, esp for an expedition
-
(plural) food obtained for a household
-
a demand, condition, or stipulation formally incorporated in a document; proviso
-
the conferring of and induction into ecclesiastical offices
verb
Synonym Usage
See food.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
overprovisionnoun
-
preprovisionnoun
-
provisionernoun
-
self-provisionnoun
-
reprovisionverb
-
provisionlessadjective
-
unprovisionedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
provisionsimple
-
provisionssimple
-
have provisionedperfect
-
has provisionedperfect
-
am provisioningprogressive
-
are provisioningprogressive
-
is provisioningprogressive
-
have been provisioningperfect progressive
-
has been provisioningperfect progressive
Past
-
provisionedsimple
-
had provisionedperfect
-
was provisioningprogressive
-
were provisioningprogressive
-
had been provisioningperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing provision
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Unit 1: Telling Details
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Tinker v. Des Moines": Excerpts from Justice Fortas's Opinion
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
One provision would’ve required private schools accepting public money to give a common standardized test and report results to the county superintendent, allowing more insight into the schools’ educational quality.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
The indoor climbing community has voiced several concerns about the provision for a climbing wall within the new sports centre - which is to be moved to the current 5-a-side building.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
The US Energy Department made no mention of such a provision and did not offer comment when asked about it by AFP.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
That provision could give him more flexibility to impose tariffs on a whim, rather than the months of investigations required by Section 301.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
My violation of this provision gave them no choice but to revoke the award.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
She said any reform must be funded by reducing current spending and not raising taxes, and also be fair to those who have "made provisions and saved up over the course of their lives".
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Its cost-to-income ratio declined to 38.9% in 2Q from 42.3% a year earlier thanks to cost control, higher operational efficiency and lower property provisions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
The deal also lacks specific provisions for international inspections, something the country reportedly insisted on.
From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2026
Second, it’s unclear what Desai meant by “non-statutory” policies and provisions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
By 1796, he had begun to draft his last will and testament, in which he eventually made elaborate provisions to assure that all his slaves would be freed upon the death of his wife.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
U.S. factories also kept allied Soviet forces provisioned.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
He provisioned his ship and gave to the Coast Miwoks who greeted him pieces of blue-and- white Chinese porcelain that he had evidently “liberated” from the Spanish.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2025
UT itself hosts an annual Free Speech Week in which outside influence is encouraged on campus—and is specifically outlined as protected, provisioned for, and celebrated.
From Slate ● Apr. 27, 2024
“This campaign was run by geographically dispersed operators across China who appeared to be centrally provisioned with internet access and content,” Meta said in the report published Tuesday.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 30, 2023
Okay, maybe we are not that well provisioned after all.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
"Time series analysis highlights significant seasonal mortality patterns, underscoring the need for targeted interventions during high-risk periods like peak summer months; such as strategic water provisioning, supplemental feeding, and enhanced disease monitoring," it said.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Documents published by the US Navy this month show advanced planning for an even larger Australian stockpile, with $30 million allocated to build warehouses and offices in southeastern Victoria state for "critical forward provisioning".
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026
This led to higher provisioning coverage ratio of around 58.6%, strengthening the non-banking financial company’s balance-sheet buffers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 27, 2026
"Organisations will need to prepare for changes to wage structures, HR systems, social security provisioning and compliance governance," according to staffing agency BDO India.
From BBC ● Nov. 27, 2025
The Adjutant commanded those of us who labored provisioning to pull back to Cambridge.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
