pro·vi·sion·al
prə-ˈvizh-nəl 
-ˈvi-zhə-nᵊl
: serving for the time being : temporary
a provisional government
provisionally
adverb
: a postage stamp for use until a regular issue appears compare definitive
Synonyms
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 elected
Recent Examples on the Web
Barton Gellman, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
Context: The Republican National Committee and the state GOP had appealed a lower court's ruling siding with a lawsuit brought by two voters for whom Butler County refused to count their provisional ballots in the 2024 primary.
—Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 10 Nov. 2022
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
See all Example Sentences for provisional 
Adjective
In very close races, mandated recounts or the tallying of provisional ballots could delay the outcome for days.
—Barton Gellman, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
Context: The Republican National Committee and the state GOP had appealed a lower court's ruling siding with a lawsuit brought by two voters for whom Butler County refused to count their provisional ballots in the 2024 primary.
—Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
The 2022 turnout rate will rise only slightly with an official canvass, which will include all valid provisional and absentee ballots that were postmarked by the day before the election and received by the statutory deadline.
—Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 10 Nov. 2022
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
See all Example Sentences for provisional
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'provisional.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near provisional
Cite this Entry
“Provisional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provisional. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal 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
provisionally
adverb
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