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.
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OTHER WORDS FROM provisional
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for provisional
British Dictionary definitions for provisional (1 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 of provisional
provisionally, adverbBritish Dictionary definitions for provisional (2 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
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