provisory

American  

[pruh-vahy-zuh-ree] / prəˈvaɪ zə ri /

adjective

1. containing a proviso or condition; conditional.

2. provisional.

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provisory British  

/ prəˈvaɪzərɪ /

adjective

1. containing a proviso; conditional

2. another word for provisional

3. making provision

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Other Word Forms

• provisorily adverb

Etymology

Origin of provisory

1605–15; < Medieval Latin prōvīsōrius, equivalent to Latin prōvid-, stem of prōvidēre to provide + -tōrius -tory ¹, with dt > s

Explanation

Anything that's provisory is dependent on certain conditions. Your provisory agreement to take your sister to the zoo for the day depends on her agreeing to buy you lunch. When a statement or agreement is described as provisory, that means it has certain qualifications attached to it. In other words, you'll do something, but only if a condition is met. A provisory college acceptance letter might state that it depends on your grades for the final semester of your senior year. The qualification or condition itself is known as a proviso.

Example Sentences

My feelings of safety and belonging are still highly provisory.

From The Guardian • Oct. 21, 2020

The airline seats are arranged in a group and function as a provisory sofa for the volunteers.

From Slate • Mar. 13, 2015

A provisory government was established, entitled the Government of the National Defence.

From The War Upon Religion Being an Account of the Rise and Progress of Anti-christianism in Europe by Cunningham, Francis A. (Francis Aloysius)

Marshal Serrano established there his modest headquarters as regent of a provisory kingdom, and there lived Amadeo, who had the spirit to quit a throne which he could not occupy with dignity.

From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 12, No. 28, July, 1873 by Various

Zinc plates are also employed as provisory supports instead of glass, opal or porcelain plates.

From Photographic Reproduction Processes by Duchochois, Peter C.