provisional

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​vi·​sion·​al prə-ˈvizh-nəl How to pronounce provisional (audio)
-ˈvi-zhə-nᵊl
: serving for the time being : temporary
a provisional government
provisionally adverb

provisional

2 of 2

noun

: a postage stamp for use until a regular issue appears compare definitive

Examples of provisional in a Sentence

Adjective The government has given provisional approval for the use of the new drug. will form a provisional government until a new leader can be elected
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
European Union officials had struck a provisional deal in December following 37 hours of debates. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 Two dense, uncannily provisional years—youthful years, in other words—slowly sped by. Joseph O’Neill, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 This brings the provisional total number of UK arrivals so far this year to 2,983. Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024 Military guidelines allow a provisional retirement rank if an officer is under investigation for misconduct at the time, as Jackson was during his departure from the Navy. Alex Horton, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 After the case was brought on January 11 and 12, the court deemed plausible the accusation of genocide and ordered Israel to do everything in its power to prevent genocide in Gaza by following six provisional measures that—as of March 6—have been fully ignored. Hazlitt, 6 Mar. 2024 Following the provisional ban, NADO Italia said that testosterone, which can be used to increase athletic endurance, was detected in the midfielder’s system after Juventus beat Udinese 3-0. Ben Church, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 The accounting is not final, but more than 120 cases there pushed the state's 2023 provisional total to 162 cases, with four deaths, including one contract worker at Billerud. Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2024 More than 111,000 people in the US died from a drug overdose in the 12-month period that ended in September, according to provisional data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024
Noun
The 2022 turnout rate will rise only slightly with an official canvass, which will include all valid provisional and absentee ballots that were postmarked by the day before the election and received by the statutory deadline. Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 10 Nov. 2022 Instead, the board of elections will determine which outstanding provisional and absentee ballots are valid at the Sept. 27 board meeting, Perlatti said. cleveland, 13 Sep. 2021 Correll read the official election results, which have been certified following Election Day Nov. 5 and the Nov. 7 canvass of absentee and provisional ballots; 1,782 ballots were cast, including 10 absentee and 12 provisionals. David Anderson, baltimoresun.com, 13 Nov. 2019 His provisional sailed left, too, into the deep rough. Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2019 Election Day in this year’s statewide Democratic and Republican primary election was June 26, followed by an absentee ballot canvass June 28, a provisional ballot canvass Thursday and the final count of absentee and provisionals Friday. David Anderson, The Aegis, 6 July 2018 The Board of Elections, sitting as the Board of Canvassers, accepted 313, including 274 absentees and 39 provisionals. David Anderson, The Aegis, 6 July 2018 There’s going to be a paper recount of all the votes from early voting, election day, absentees and provisionals. Pamela Wood, baltimoresun.com, 10 July 2018 McComas picked up five more votes in the Republican race for District 34B, while Tilley earned six provisionals. David Anderson, The Aegis, 5 July 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'provisional.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1601, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of provisional was in 1601

Dictionary Entries Near provisional

Cite this Entry

“Provisional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provisional. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

provisional

adjective
pro·​vi·​sion·​al
prə-ˈvizh-nəl,
-ən-ᵊl
: serving for the time being
a provisional government
provisional arrangements
provisionally
adverb

Legal Definition

provisional

adjective
pro·​vi·​sion·​al prə-ˈvi-zhə-nəl How to pronounce provisional (audio)
1
: provided for a temporary need : suitable or acceptable in the existing situation but subject to change or nullification
a provisional government
provisional custody of a minor
2
: of, relating to, or being temporary judicial acts or proceedings (as of attachment, injunction, or sequestration) allowed before final judgment to protect the interests of one or more parties to an action
a provisional remedy
provisionally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on provisional

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