provisional

[ pruh-vizh-uh-nl ]

/ prəˈvɪʒ ə nl /

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adjective Also pro·vi·sion·ar·y [pruh-vizh-uh-ner-ee] /prəˈvɪʒ əˌnɛr i/ (for defs 1, 2).

providing or serving for the time being only; existing only until permanently or properly replaced; temporary: a provisional government.

accepted or adopted tentatively; conditional; probationary.

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

noun

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 initial capital letter) a member of the Provisional wing of the Irish Republican Army.

Nearby words

provinciality, provincialize, proving ground, provirus, provision, provisional, provisional wing of the irish republican army, proviso, provisory, provitamin, provitamin a

Origin of provisional

First recorded in 1595–1605; provision + -al¹

Related forms

pro·vi·sion·al·i·ty, pro·vi·sion·al·ness, nounpro·vi·sion·al·ly, adverbnon·pro·vi·sion·al, adjectivenon·pro·vi·sion·al·ly, adverb

non·pro·vi·sion·ar·y, adjectiveun·pro·vi·sion·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for provisionally

I have called it provisionally Chironomus oceanicus, or Ocean gnat.
Our Common Insects|Alpheus Spring Packard
A president, a general secretary, and an international committee were provisionally appointed.
The Unity of Civilization|Various
The subgentes seem to be composed of a number of groups of a still lower order, which are provisionally termed "sections."
Omaha sociology (1884 N 03 / 1881-1882 (pages 205-370))|James Owen Dorsey
I place it provisionally in the genus Lerema, though it undoubtedly does not belong here, and probably may represent a new genus.
The Butterfly Book|William Jacob Holland

The relations between two States must often be termed a latent war, which is provisionally being waged in peaceful rivalry.
Gems (?) of German Thought|Various

British Dictionary definitions for provisionally (1 of 2)

Provisional

/ (prəˈvɪʒənəl) /

adjective

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

noun

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

Compare Official

British Dictionary definitions for provisionally (2 of 2)

provisional

less commonly provisionary (prəˈvɪʒənərɪ)

/ (prəˈvɪʒənəl) /

adjective

subject to later alteration; temporary or conditionala provisional decision

noun

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

provisionally, adverb

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