provisional
0 antonyms and opposites of provisional, grouped by meaning.
Adj — Temporary and meant to be replaced later by something permanent.
How to use provisional
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From provision plus the adjective ending -al, echoing the older French provisionnel and Latin provisionalis.
Full origin of provisional →Frequently asked questions
What does “provisional” mean?
The word “provisional” means temporary and meant to be replaced later by something permanent. In plain terms, something in place for now, not meant to last — a stopgap arrangement.
How do you pronounce “provisional”?
“Provisional” is pronounced pruh-VIH-zhuh-nuhl (/pɹəˈvɪʒənəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “provisional” in a sentence?
Here is “provisional” used in a sentence: “A provisional government was set up until elections could be held.”
What part of speech is “provisional”?
“Provisional” is an adjective.
Where does the word “provisional” come from?
The word “provisional” comes from Latin. From provision plus the adjective ending -al, echoing the older French provisionnel and Latin provisionalis.
Is “provisional” a common word?
“Provisional” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "provisional" and "permanent"?
"Provisional" describes something temporary and meant to be replaced later by something permanent, such as a provisional government or provisional license. "Permanent" describes something intended to last indefinitely without further change.
Is "provisional" used in legal or governmental contexts differently than in everyday speech?
In legal and governmental contexts, "provisional" often describes interim arrangements, such as a provisional government or provisional ruling, that hold until a permanent structure is established. In everyday speech, it simply means temporary or tentative, as in a "provisional agreement."
