provision

¹pro·vi·sion

noun \prə-ˈvi-zhən\

Definition of PROVISION

1

a : the act or process of providing(see provide) b : the fact or state of being prepared beforehand c : a measure taken beforehand to deal with a need or contingency : preparation <made provision for replacements>

2

: a stock of needed materials or supplies; especially : a stock of food —usually used in plural

3

: proviso, stipulation

Examples of PROVISION

1. Provisions should be made for regular inspections.
2. He made provisions to donate part of his fortune to charity after he died.
3. You should make provision for emergencies.
4. I carried my provisions in one large backpack.
5. We brought enough provisions to last the entire trip.
6. The President, of all people, should know how difficult it is to take care of basic things like, say, prescription drugs for the elderly or shelter from the storm—especially if your government places a low priority on the efficient provision of public services and a high priority on the care and feeding of cronies … —Joe Klein, Time, 6 Feb. 2006
7. Nothing was overlooked. There was a fallback position, a fail-safe provision, for any contingency. —Gary Wills, New York Times Book Review, 1 Apr. 2001
8. They wheedled the American Congress into awarding entry terms more favorable than those enjoyed by any other state, including two unique provisions: Texas and not the federal government would own all public lands, and the state would retain forever the right to divide into five smaller states if that proved attractive, each one to have two senators and a proportionate number of representatives. —James A. Michener, Texas, 1985

Origin of PROVISION

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin provision-, provisio act of providing, from Latin, foresight, from providēre to see ahead — more at provide

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PROVISION

Synonyms: contingency, if, condition, proviso, qualification, reservation, stipulation

Related Words: strings, terms; precondition, prerequisite, requirement, requisite; limitation, modification, restriction; exception, exemption; demand, essential, must, necessity, need

Near Antonyms: bane, poison, toxin, venom

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with PROVISION

abscission, collision, concision, decision, derision, division, dream vision, elision, elysian, envision, excision, incision, misprision, North Frisian, Parisian, precisian, precision, prevision, recision, rescission, revision