What do provisions mean?

Pronunciation

/ˈdʒərbərə/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A provision is a specific item or arrangement made to ensure the well-being or safety of something, such as a person, animal, or object.

Examples

• The company made provisions for employee bonuses in the new budget.
• A provision was made in the recipe to account for the possibility of variable ingredient quality.

Synonyms

• Arrangement
• Plan

Antonyms

• Omission
• Neglect

Additional Information

Provisions can take many forms, such as financial arrangements, regulations, or plans. In a broader sense, provisions can refer to any measure taken to ensure the safety or well-being of something. In the context of navigation, provisions refer to the food, water, and other supplies needed to sustain a vessel or its crew during a voyage.

Provisions can also be used in a more abstract sense, referring to the underlying circumstances or conditions that affect the outcome of a situation. In this sense, provisions can be seen as the underlying factors that influence the outcome of a particular event or decision.

Etymology

The word “provision” comes from the Latin “providentia,” meaning “provision” or “protection.”

Usage Notes

Provision is often used in contexts where something needs to be taken care of or ensured. It can also be used to describe a specific item or arrangement made to achieve a particular goal.

Cultural References

Provisions have been referenced in various forms of media, such as literature and film. For example, the concept of provisions is central to the novel “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

There are several idiomatic expressions that include the word “provision.” For example, “provisional” refers to something that is temporary or pending, while “provisionally” means to do something on a temporary basis.

Related Words or Phrases

Words or phrases closely related to “provision” include “protection,” “safety,” “security,” and “assurance.”

Collocations

Common collocations with “provision” include “provisional,” “provisional agreement,” and “provisions for.”

Frequency of Use

Provision is a common word in everyday language, particularly in business and administrative contexts. It is used frequently in discussions of planning, strategy, and decision-making.

Common Misspellings

Some common misspellings of “provision” include “provisoner,” “provisionner,” and “provison.”