Provisional vs. Provisory — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 8, 2024
Provisional arrangements are temporary, pending a final decision, while provisory emphasizes conditions or terms that must be met.
Difference Between Provisional and Provisory
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Provisional typically describes something arranged or established for the time being, pending a final or future arrangement. It often implies a temporary status until something more permanent is decided. On the other hand, provisory is less commonly used and refers specifically to stipulations or conditions that are provisional; it suggests that something is conditional and depends on certain terms being met.
Provisional is frequently used in legal, political, or administrative contexts to describe interim governments, agreements, or measures. These are expected to be replaced by permanent structures or agreements. Whereas, provisory often appears in legal documents or discussions, emphasizing that the provisions are contingent upon specific conditions or qualifiers.
In common usage, provisional has broader applications and is more recognizable in everyday language. It can describe anything from temporary setups at events to provisional data in research awaiting confirmation. Conversely, provisory is typically reserved for more formal or specialized contexts, highlighting its conditional nature.
In terms of temporal scope, provisional implies that the duration is undefined but is intended to be replaced or finalized in the future. Provisory, on the other hand, stresses the conditional aspect, often tying the duration or validity of an agreement to certain conditions being met or milestones achieved.
While both terms share a root in provision, implying foresight or preparation for future needs, their nuances differ significantly. Provisional leans towards temporality and a stopgap nature, while provisory is inherently tied to conditions and qualifiers.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
Temporarily adopted for future decision
Conditional, depending on other provisions
Usage Context
Legal, political, administrative
Formal, often legal documents
Frequency
Common in everyday language
Less common, specialized use
Implication
Temporary, interim solution
Conditional, contingent on terms
Example Scenario
Provisional government, provisional data
Provisory clauses in a contract
Compare with Definitions
Provisional
Relating to the temporary appointment of an official.
A provisional director was appointed to oversee the project.
Provisory
Attached with conditions to an otherwise firm offer.
The offer was made with a provisory note about timelines.
Provisional
Serving in place of something more permanent.
They accepted a provisional offer of employment.
Provisory
Dependent on certain conditions being met.
His acceptance into the program is provisory on completing prerequisites.
Provisional
Indicating a temporary status.
Her position as manager is only provisional.
Provisory
Including or implying a provision; conditional.
The agreement includes a provisory clause requiring further inspections.
Provisional
Arranged for the present, possibly to be changed later.
We're using a provisional textbook until the new edition is published.
Provisory
Subject to future conditions or contingencies.
They reached a provisory agreement, dependent on market conditions.
Provisional
Temporarily adopted.
The committee's rules are provisional and subject to change.
Provisory
Conditionally effective.
Their membership is provisory until the board approves it.
Provisional
Provided or serving only for the time being.
Provisory
Depending on a proviso; conditional.
Provisional
Provisional Of or relating to any of the extremist factions of the Irish Republican Army established in 1970.
Provisory
Containing a proviso.
The provisory clause effectively excluded his otherwise logical heirs from his main inheritance.
Provisional
A person hired temporarily for a job, typically before having taken an examination qualifying the person for permanent employment
Fire department provisionals.
Provisory
Dependent on a proviso or condition.
A provisory guarantee is rather like blackmail.
Provisional
A temporary stamp that is used before the official issue is released.
Provisory
Temporary; pending something more permanent.
Provisional
Provisional A member of a Provisional faction of the Irish Republican Army.
Provisory
(philately) provisional
Provisional
Temporary, but with the intention of eventually becoming permanent or being replaced by a permanent equivalent.
Marsden and Jones were named in the provisional squad for the European Championships, to be confirmed before the 30 June deadline.
The provisional date for the wedding is April 2, but it is subject to confirmation at the church.
Provisory
Of the nature of a proviso; containing a proviso or condition; conditional; as, a provisory clause.
Provisional
(philately) A postage stamp issued locally before an official issue is released.
Provisory
Making temporary provision; provisional.
Provisional
(dentistry) An interim denture.
Provisory
Subject to a proviso;
A provisory clause
Provisional
Of the nature of a provision; serving as a provision for the time being; - used of partial or temporary arrangements; as, a provisional government; a provisional treaty.
Provisional
Under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon;
Probationary employees
A provisional government
Just a tentative schedule
Common Curiosities
What is an example of a provisory condition in contracts?
An example would be a provisory clause stating that the contract is valid only if certain legal criteria are met.
What does provisional mean?
Provisional refers to something temporary and set up for the time being until something more definitive is established.
What is a common use of provisional in everyday language?
Provisional is commonly used to describe temporary measures, such as provisional governments or provisional licenses.
Are there provisions in provisory agreements?
Yes, provisory agreements specifically include conditions or terms that must be met for the agreement to hold.
What does it mean when something is described as provisory?
It means that it includes specific conditions or terms that need to be met for it to be valid or effective.
How are provisory conditions usually framed in documents?
Provisory conditions are typically framed as clauses in documents that outline specific contingencies or requirements for validity.
Can provisional and provisory be used interchangeably?
While they are related, they are not typically interchangeable due to the conditional nature of provisory compared to the general temporary status of provisional.
What contexts is provisory used in?
Provisory is most often used in formal or legal contexts where specific conditions or stipulations are highlighted.
Is provisional more about time or condition?
Provisional is more about time, implying something temporary until a more permanent solution or state is established.
Is provisory more about time or condition?
Provisory is more about conditions, focusing on dependencies or contingencies that must be fulfilled.
How do provisional measures affect decision-making?
Provisional measures allow for temporary solutions during decision-making processes, providing a basis for operation while final decisions are pending.
Can a provisional arrangement become permanent?
Yes, a provisional arrangement can become permanent if it proves effective and is subsequently adopted as a long-term solution.
How do provisional and provisory differ in legal terms?
In legal terms, provisional often refers to interim measures or arrangements, while provisory specifies the conditions under which agreements are effective.
What kind of provisions does provisional imply?
Provisional typically implies temporary provisions made in anticipation of a future permanent arrangement.
What should one consider when agreeing to a provisory clause?
One should consider the specific conditions and ensure they are realistic and achievable to avoid invalidating the agreement.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Pubescent vs. Adolescent
Next Comparison
Blue vs. UltramarineAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
