provision

American  

[pruh-vizh-uhn] / prəˈvɪʒ ən /

noun

provisions plural

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

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• provisions
  plural

Participles

• provisioning
  present
• provisioned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• provision
  simple
• provisions
  simple
• have provisioned
  perfect
• has provisioned
  perfect
• am provisioning
  progressive
• are provisioning
  progressive
• is provisioning
  progressive
• have been provisioning
  perfect progressive
• has been provisioning
  perfect progressive

Past

• provisioned
  simple
• had provisioned
  perfect
• was provisioning
  progressive
• were provisioning
  progressive
• had been provisioning
  perfect progressive

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

Every new delivery vehicle UPS purchases now includes air conditioning—a provision included in UPS’s most recent contract with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents UPS drivers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 3, 2026

Both the logistical and financial challenges created by the new provision have advocates and some schools worried it could push higher education out of reach for many part-time students.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026

She said concerns included delays in hospital discharge because care packages were unavailable, long waits for support at home, reduced care provision and difficulties accessing services in rural areas.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026

What provision of the 14th Amendment is safe from destruction?

From Slate • Jun. 30, 2026

Then I couldn’t help asking, “And why didn’t your folks make some provision for her?”

From "Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High" by Melba Pattillo Beals

Related Words

• arrangement
• plan