Meaning & use
provision
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountablelegal
A clause in a contract or law stating a specific condition or rule.
Grammar: Has a plural: a provision, several provisions.
Patterns
- a provision in something
- a provision that something happens
The contract contains a provision for early cancellation.
One provision of the law bans smoking in offices.
noununcountableformal
The act of supplying something that people need.
Grammar: No plural; usually followed by of: the provision of housing.
Patterns
- provision of something
- provision for someone
The council is responsible for the provision of school meals.
Provision of clean water improved health in the village.
nounusually plural
Food and supplies stored for a journey or a period of need.
Grammar: Normally provisions: they bought provisions.
Patterns
- provisions for something
The hikers bought provisions for a week.
The ship ran low on provisions.
verbtransitiveformal
To give a person or place the supplies it needs.
Grammar: Takes an object: provision the camp.
Patterns
- provision someone with something
They provisioned the expedition with enough food for a month.
The ships were provisioned at the port.
Word forms
| plural | provisions |
|---|
Common combinations
- make provision for
- She made provision for her children in her will.
- provision of services
- The provision of services was cut.
- legal provision
- A legal provision protects tenants.
- stock up on provisions
- We stocked up on provisions before the storm.
- provision in a contract
- There is a provision in the contract about delays.
Synonyms and how they differ
- clause
- Is a section of a document and does not also mean supplies.
- supplies
- Names the goods themselves, not the act of providing them.
- stipulation
- Stresses a condition that must be met.
Word family
- provide verb
- to give or supply
- provisional adjective
- arranged for now but likely to change
- provisioning noun
- the act of supplying
Commonly confused: provision or proviso?
provision vs proviso
A proviso is a condition attached to an agreement; a provision is any clause, or the act of supplying.
Practice
The lease includes a ___ that allows the tenant to leave with a month's notice.
Choose one answer.
A provision is a clause in a contract. Provisional is an adjective, and provider and provisioning do not mean a clause.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “provision”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.