provisional
1 of 2adjective
pro·vi·sion·al prə-ˈvizh-nəl 
-ˈvi-zhə-nᵊl
: serving for the time being : temporary
a provisional government
provisionally adverb
provisional
2 of 2noun
: a postage stamp for use until a regular issue appears compare definitive
Synonyms
Adjective
- ad interim
- impermanent
- interim
- provisionary
- provisory
- short-term
- temporary
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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
Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 20 Apr. 2021 Earlier this month, the Montgomery elections board delayed certification after officials discovered 102 uncounted provisional ballots. Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 Some voters were delayed because of missing envelopes for provisional ballots. Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 5 Aug. 2022 Based on the final number of mail-in and provisional ballots counted through Friday, Howard County Council and school board candidates are set for the general election in November. Allana Haynes, Baltimore Sun, 29 July 2022 Counties will also be required to update their ballots and send provisional ballots to overseas and military voters, for whom voting has already begun. cleveland, 27 June 2022 The Election Commission will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday to review the provisional ballots. Tom Sissom, Arkansas Online, 22 June 2022 In contrast though, Jupiter only has 26 additional provisional moons. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2022 This included filing the provisional patents that Abreezio’s technology was based on, attending key meetings, and even picking out the startup’s name. Michael Kan, PCMAG, 12 Aug. 2022 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 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, 27 May 2018 See More
Adjective
Medical marijuana: The Ohio Board of Pharmacy unanimously voted Monday afternoon to more than double the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in the state to a total of 130 from the current 57 provisional and active licensed businesses. Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 20 Apr. 2021 Earlier this month, the Montgomery elections board delayed certification after officials discovered 102 uncounted provisional ballots. Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 Some voters were delayed because of missing envelopes for provisional ballots. Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 5 Aug. 2022 Based on the final number of mail-in and provisional ballots counted through Friday, Howard County Council and school board candidates are set for the general election in November. Allana Haynes, Baltimore Sun, 29 July 2022 Counties will also be required to update their ballots and send provisional ballots to overseas and military voters, for whom voting has already begun. cleveland, 27 June 2022 The Election Commission will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday to review the provisional ballots. Tom Sissom, Arkansas Online, 22 June 2022 In contrast though, Jupiter only has 26 additional provisional moons. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2022 This included filing the provisional patents that Abreezio’s technology was based on, attending key meetings, and even picking out the startup’s name. Michael Kan, PCMAG, 12 Aug. 2022 Noun
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 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, 27 May 2018 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1601, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1886, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing provisional
Legal Definition
provisional
adjective
pro·vi·sion·al prə-ˈvi-zhə-nəl
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
provisional
adjective
1
as in interim
intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time will form a provisional government until a new leader can be elected Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- interim
- temporary
- transitional
- provisionary
- provisory
- short-term
- impermanent
- alternate
- tentative
- ad interim
- acting
- conditional
- proxy
- makeshift
- expedient
- improvised
- qualified
- intermediary
- intermediate
- substitute
- transitory
- ephemeral
- limited
- fleeting
- terminate
- contingent
- terminable
- short-lived
- short-range
- fugitive
- replaceable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- permanent
- final
- fixed
- unconditional
- unqualified
- settled
- unlimited
- long-term
- set
- extended
- eternal
- standing
- lasting
- perpetual
- everlasting
- immortal
- enduring
- timeless
- endless
- unending
- deathless
- undying
- long-range
- dateless
2
as in temporary
serving in a position for the time being he was appointed provisional executor of the industrialist's vast estate Synonyms & Similar Words
- interim
- temporary
- acting
- provisory
- provisionary
- proxy
- ad interim
- makeshift
- stopgap
- backup
- alternate
- substitute
- make-do
- jackleg
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- permanent
- long-term