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provisional

provisional

56 6.1
Temporary for now and likely to change
  • adjective
  • /prəˈvɪʒənl/
: provisional
  • The committee made a provisional decision to hold the festival, pending further reviews.
  • a provisional government
  • on a provisional basis
  • a provisional arrangement

So in those circumstances, we all have a provisional sense of self.

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Examples

  • What is the basic political unity in this provisional government, if there is one?

  • Few are as painfully aware as Chilean political leaders of the provisional character of democracy.

    Academic text (1992)
  • I will issue a provisional command.

  • Order of the Provisional Government.

  • So he said the provisional government idea is not a good idea.

    Academic text (2013)
  • You were from the beginning a provisional government... not truly representative of the people.

  • Yet, these measures are provisional and in need of "more objective assessment."

    Academic text (2013)
  • The provisional government, first... ...will free all political prisoners, civilian and military.

  • It says here his parole is provisional.

  • U. S. officials have asked Hong Kong to detain the former contractor on a provisional arrest warrant.

Synonyms

preliminary
vsprovisional
219 5.2

Happening before a main event to prepare for it

is arranged for the present and used, not only as preparation
interim
vsprovisional
114 5.0

For a short time until a permanent solution or person is found

is used for the present and may be changed later without permanence
tentative
vsprovisional
55 5.1

Made or said without being fully certain, often as a trial

is arranged for the present rather than indicating doubt or hesitation
working
vsprovisional
33 3.3

A temporary version used until the final one is made

is arranged for the present and not necessarily a draft form
probationary
vsprovisional
15 7.3

About a short test period before someone gets a permanent job

is arranged for the present without implying a formal testing period
provisionary
vsprovisional
1 7.5

Temporary and not final while waiting for approval

is arranged for the present rather than final and permanent
provisory
vsprovisional
1 9.5

Temporary and only true if a condition is met

is arranged for the present without depending on a condition

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Last and cannot be changed or reversed

613 3.2

Continuing for a long time and unlikely to change

Compounds

1 8.8

An armed Irish group that used violence to fight British troops in Northern Ireland and unite Ireland

An armed Irish group that used violence to end British rule in Northern Ireland

How Temporary

ephemeral
17 8.6
short-term
358 3.3
temporary
538 3.0
provisional
56 6.1
long-term
802 3.0
permanent
613 3.2

Surface Forms

provisional positive
provisioner comparative
provisionest superlative

Morphology

provisional = provision (semi-transparent) = provision + al

The adjective is clearly built from 'provision' + '-al', but the modern meaning 'temporary, pending final decision' is only loosely predictable from the base noun.

Etymology

The word provisional comes from the same root as provide and provision, with pro- meaning 'before' and the rest meaning 'to see' or 'prepare'. So a provisional decision is one made 'before' the final one, meaning it is arranged for now and may change later.