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Definition of provisional - 4 dictionary results
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pro⋅vi⋅sion⋅al

  [pruh-vizh-uh-nl]
Use provisional in a Sentence
–adjective
1. providing or serving for the time being only; existing only until permanently or properly replaced; temporary: a provisional government.
2. accepted or adopted tentatively; conditional; probationary.
3. (usually initial capital letter) of or being the wing of the Irish Republican Army that follows a policy of violence.
–noun
4. Philately. a stamp that serves temporarily, pending the appearance of the regular issue, or during a temporary shortage of the regular stamps.
5. a provisional member of a group.
6. (usually initial capital letter) a member of the Provisional wing of the Irish Republican Army.
Also, pro⋅vi⋅sion⋅ar⋅y  [pruh-vizh-uh-ner-ee] (for defs. 1, 2).

Origin:
1595–1605; provision + -al 1

Related forms:
pro⋅vi⋅sion⋅al⋅i⋅ty, pro⋅vi⋅sion⋅al⋅ness, noun
pro⋅vi⋅sion⋅al⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To provisional
pro·vi·sion·al   (prə-vĭzh'ə-nəl)   
adj.  
  1. Provided or serving only for the time being. See Synonyms at temporary.
  2. Provisional Of or relating to any of the extremist factions of the Irish Republican Army established in 1970.
n.  
  1. A person hired temporarily for a job, typically before having taken an examination qualifying the person for permanent employment: fire department provisionals.
  2. A temporary stamp that is used before the official issue is released.
  3. Provisional A member of a Provisional faction of the Irish Republican Army established in 1970.
pro·vi'sion·al·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Provisional

Pro*vi"sion*al\, a. [Cf. F. provisionnel.] Of the nature of a provision; serving as a provision for the time being; -- used of partial or temporary arrangements; as, a provisional government; a provisional treaty.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : provisional
Spanish: provisional,
German: provisorisch,
Japanese: 仮の
More Translations »

Main Entry: pro·vi·sion·al
Pronunciation: pr&-'vi-zh&-n&l
Function: adjective
1 : provided for a temporary need : suitable or acceptable in the existing situation but subject to change or nullification 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 provisional remedy> —pro·vi·sion·al·ly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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