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View synonyms for provisional

provisional

[ pruh-vizh-uh-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.


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

/ 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
“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


noun

  1. Also calledProvo a member of the Provisional IRA or Sinn Féin
“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

provisional

2

/ prəˈvɪʒənəl; prəˈvɪʒənərɪ /

adjective

  1. subject to later alteration; temporary or conditional

    a provisional decision

“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

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
“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
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Derived Forms

  • proˈvisionally, adverb
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Other Words From

  • pro·vision·ali·ty pro·vision·al·ness noun
  • pro·vision·al·ly adverb
  • nonpro·vision·al adjective
  • nonpro·vision·al·ly adverb
  • nonpro·vision·ary adjective
  • unpro·vision·al adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of provisional1

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

Dolours, a former Provisional Irish Republican Army militant, is visibly nervous.

From Salon

Erin Griffiths, 16, can get her provisional licence next year but said she already has anxiety and is planning to put off lessons.

From BBC

The genocide case against Israel, launched by South Africa on Dec. 29, 2023, and since joined by 10 other nations, including Ireland, Mexico and Türkiye, has not yet been decided by the International Court of Justice, which in January issued provisional orders.

From Salon

That program has allowed more than 800,000 asylum seekers from across the globe to enter the United States with provisional status after interviews at U.S. border posts.

That provisional order was dissolved Tuesday after a judge ruled that Sophy failed to prove that Dre, born Andre Young, poses a threat to his physical safety — denying the psychiatrist’s request for a permanent restraining order.

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Related Words

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provisionProvisional Wing of the Irish Republican Army