provisional
adjective
pro·vi·sion·al
| \ prə-ˈvizh-nəl
, -ˈvi-zhə-nᵊl\
, -ˈvi-zhə-nᵊl\
Definition of provisional
(Entry 1 of 2)
: serving for the time being : temporary
a provisional government
provisional
nounDefinition of provisional (Entry 2 of 2)
: a postage stamp for use until a regular issue appears — compare definitive
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Synonyms & Antonyms for provisional
Synonyms: Adjective
ad interim, impermanent, interim, provisionary, provisory, short-term, temporary
Antonyms: Adjective
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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 electedRecent Examples on the Web: Adjective
In that suit, the parties agreed that Ohioans who had been purged for inactivity between 2011 and this year would be allowed to cast a provisional ballot through 2022. — Laura Hancock, cleveland.com, "Ohio Dems sue Frank LaRose seeking to stop voter purge," 30 Aug. 2019 Voters also can change their minds and vote in person, without triggering a provisional ballot. — Matt Stiles, Los Angeles Times, "Ready for the voting overhaul in L.A. County? Here’s what you need to know," 19 Aug. 2019 Illinois law does, however, allow for the casting of provisional ballots on election days if voter data became compromised. — Rick Pearson, chicagotribune.com, "3 years after Russian hackers tapped Illinois voter database, officials spending millions to safeguard 2020 election," 5 Aug. 2019 Citizens gave me a provisional credit of $100 the same day. — cleveland.com, "Citizens Bank customer gives someone a $100 check, it clears twice: Money Matters," 4 Aug. 2019 Social Security benefits are taxable based on your provisional income. — Bruce Helmer And Peg Webb, Twin Cities, "Your Money: How to work gig-work into retirement," 27 July 2019 The country’s weather service said a provisional temperature of 38.7 C (101.7 F) was recorded at Cambridge University Botanic Garden in eastern England, which if confirmed would be the highest ever recorded in Britain. — Natasha Livingstone, BostonGlobe.com, "Heat, then hail: Weather and travel woes hit Britain, France," 26 July 2019 On Friday, organizers first provided delayed provisional standings and then tweaked the results in official standings that took about three hours to finalize. — orlandosentinel.com, "Egan Bernal storms into Tour de France yellow amid icy chaos," 26 July 2019 Judges issued orders at the time preventing election officials from discarding absentee and provisional ballots. — Mark Niesse, ajc, "New protections for Georgia absentee ballots settle lawsuits," 10 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
His provisional sailed left, too, into the deep rough. — Los Angeles Times, "J.B. Holmes takes British Open lead with Brooks Koepka lurking," 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, "McComas, Wagner win tight Harford primary races after final ballot canvass," 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, "McComas, Wagner win tight Harford primary races after final ballot canvass," 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, "Brochin asks for full manual recount in Democratic primary for Baltimore County executive," 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, "Leaders in 2018 Harford races remain there after provisional ballot canvass Thurs.," 5 July 2018 Welcomed were 2018 spring provisionals Jennifer Bankston, Maggie Bopp, Megan Butler, Lauren Duncan, Jillian Gutierrez, Misty Jenkins, Danielle Looper and Amanda Toombs-Couvillon. — Elizabeth Moore, NOLA.com, "North Shore Notables: Junior League of Covington honors members, introduces new board," 27 May 2018 Concordia's list of NCAA Division II provisional qualifiers grows. — Ken Goe, OregonLive.com, "Might the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials return to Hayward Field after all? Oregon track & field rundown," 9 Apr. 2018 Provisionals are immersed into their chapter’s projects, fundraising initiatives, and the community as a whole. — Southern Living, "Secrets of the Southern Junior Leagues," 1 May 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'provisional.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for provisional
provisional
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of provisional
: existing or accepted for the present time but likely to be changed
See the full definition for provisional in the English Language Learners Dictionary
provisional
adjective
pro·vi·sion·al
| \ prə-ˈvi-zhə-nəl
\
\
Legal Definition of provisional
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
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