provision

American  

[pruh-vizh-uhn] / prəˈvɪʒ ən /

noun

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)

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

Related Words

See food.

Other Word Forms

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

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

His conviction had been referred by the Criminal Cases Review Commission under the exceptional circumstances provision, which allows a new appeal even if there is no new evidence.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

They tell clients in a note that Westpac’s announcement ahead of its May 5 1H result that it will increase its collective provision coverage is consistent with this thesis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

While Wells Fargo’s provision for credit losses is up 22% from a year ago, it said the shift partly reflected higher commercial and industrial and auto loan balances.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

Earnings per share grew to $5.94 from $5.07, above the FactSet consensus of $5.45, while provision for credit losses dropped 24.1% to $2.5 billion, well below expectations of $3 billion.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

He leaned toward them and said, “In object-oriented programming, discrete software objects interfaced more freely, in a system of corporate service provision that mirrored the emergent structures of late capitalism.”

From "Feed" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

• arrangement
• plan