provisional

American  

[pruh-vizh-uh-nl] / prəˈvɪʒ ə nl /

adjective

1. providing or serving for the time being only; existing only until permanently or properly replaced; temporary.

   a provisional government.

   Synonyms:

   pro tempore , ad interim , stopgap , short-term , interim

2. accepted or adopted tentatively; conditional; contingent.

   Synonyms:

   probationary , dependent

3. (usually initial capital letter)  of or being the wing of the Irish Republican Army that follows a policy of violence.

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noun

1. Philately.  a stamp that serves temporarily, pending the appearance of the regular issue, or during a temporary shortage of the regular stamps.

2. a provisional member of a group.

3. Usually Provisional a member of the Provisional wing of the Irish Republican Army.

Provisional ¹ British  

/ prəˈvɪʒənəl /

adjective

1. 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

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noun

1. Also called: Provo.  a member of the Provisional IRA or Sinn Féin

provisional ² British  

/ prəˈvɪʒənəl, prəˈvɪʒənərɪ /

adjective

1. subject to later alteration; temporary or conditional

   a provisional decision

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noun

1. a postage stamp surcharged during an emergency to alter the stamp's denomination or significance until a new or regular issue is printed

Other Word Forms

• nonprovisional adjective
• nonprovisionally adverb
• nonprovisionary adjective
• provisionality noun
• provisionally adverb
• provisionalness noun
• unprovisional adjective

Etymology

Origin of provisional

First recorded in 1595–1605; provision + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Judge Mark Bishop fixed a provisional trial date for 22 June.

From BBC

Norris was on provisional pole after the first runs in the final session of qualifying, having edged Piastri by just 0.035 seconds.

From BBC

A court in the nearby town of Briviesca said it had "ordered the provisional release of the two former nuns" detained on Thursday, who are under investigation "for misappropriation of cultural heritage assets".

From Barron's

The contract is subject to the execution of an agreement, with remaining terms established in a tender, with a period of up to 30 working days from the provisional award, Telefonica said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The takeover came just one day before authorities were due to announce the provisional results of the November 23 polls.

From Barron's

Related Words

• conditional
• interim
• temporary
• transitional