What does provisionally mean?
Provisionally means temporarily and on a basis that may be changed later. It is used when people need to move forward with a decision, appointment, schedule, agreement, or conclusion before it has received final approval. For example, a committee may provisionally approve a proposal, meaning that approval is likely but remains subject to review or formal confirmation. The word is especially common in formal and administrative contexts, including government, business, law, and academic publishing. It conveys caution rather than rejection: the proposal is being treated as workable for the present, but nobody is claiming that the final decision has been made. Its related adjective is “provisional,” as in “a provisional agreement,” and the related noun is “provision.”
adverbTemporarily and subject to change or confirmation; for the time being. It indicates that a decision, arrangement, or proposal is not yet final.
- Temporarily; subject to later confirmation, revision, or cancellation.
"The committee has provisionally approved the plan, pending a final review."
"The two sides have provisionally agreed to meet again next month."
"The results will be published provisionally while the final analysis is completed."
Calling something provisional is a polite way of saying “not settled yet”—useful for plans that are moving forward without locking anyone into a final answer.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does provisionally come from?
Provisionally derives from the Latin “provisio,” meaning a providing, arrangement, or preparation, and ultimately from “providere,” meaning to foresee or provide for. The English noun “provision” developed from this Latin word and came to mean a supply, arrangement, or preliminary arrangement made in anticipation of future needs. The sense of being preliminary or temporary developed from the idea of something provided for the present but not necessarily permanently. Related English forms include “provide,” “provider,” and “provident,” while “province” also reflects the Latin root’s development.
Related word forms
How provisionally is actually used
The adverb is formal and commonly used in official, legal, academic, and administrative contexts. It usually signals that an arrangement or conclusion is expected but remains open to change.
Easily confused with provisionally
Provisionally means temporarily and subject to change, whereas providently means with foresight or in a way that shows good judgment.