Provisional

adjective; also noun (chiefly in political contexts, e.g. a member of a provisional body or force)

/prəˈvɪʒənəl/

Arranged or existing for the present time only, intended to be temporary until replaced by something permanent; Bose proclaimed the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind) on 21 October 1943 in Singapore as a transitional authority pending the liberation of Indian territory.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

In the immediate aftermath of independence, the framers vested authority in a provisional government, conferring on it the limited mandate of administering the State only until a duly elected legislature could be convened and a permanent constitutional order established.

Synonyms

temporaryinterimtransitionalstopgaptentativeconditional

Antonyms

permanentdefinitivefinalsettled

🌱 Word Family

provision (n/v), provisionally (adv), provisionary (adj), improvision (n)

🔡 Root

Latin prōvīsiō = foresight/preparation; prōvidēre = to foresee/provide; prō- = before; vidēre = to see

📜 Etymology

From Middle French provisionnal, from Latin prōvīsiō ("foresight, preparation"), from prōvidēre ("to foresee, to provide for"); the political usage refers to a government formed as an interim authority.

🧠 Memory Hook

Linked to "provide/provision" - a provisional arrangement merely "provides for" the moment, looking ahead (pro- + videre, 'to see ahead') until something permanent arrives. Think of a "provision" packed for the journey: it is meant to tide you over temporarily, not forever.

🏛️ History & Culture 📖 Seen in: Subhas Chandra Bose & the INA

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