Use provision when the formal act of supplying something matters. In everyday speech, providing, supply, or delivery may sound simpler.
Use provision when the formal act of supplying something matters. In everyday speech, providing, supply, or delivery may sound simpler.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The provision water was late. | The provision of water was late. |
| They provisioned a provision to people. | They provided supplies to people. |
| Provision always means law. | Provision can mean supplying or making available. |
| The provision of meals are important. | The provision of meals is important. |
Use provision for a specific legal or contractual rule. Clause is often clearer when referring to a section of a contract.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The provision says to confidential. | The provision requires confidentiality. |
| A provision is always food. | A provision can be a clause in a legal document. |
| This contract provision are invalid. | This contract provision is invalid. |
| The law provisioned appeal. | The law includes a provision for appeal. |
Use provision for when something is prepared in advance: provision for emergencies, provision for repairs. The phrase sounds formal.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| They made provision of storms. | They made provision for storms. |
| No provision was made to extra guests. | No provision was made for extra guests. |
| Provision for emergencies means ignoring emergencies. | Provision for emergencies means preparing for them. |
| The provision was futurely. | The provision was for future needs. |
Use provision carefully in accounting contexts because meanings vary by accounting system. It is usually about an expected liability, expense, or allowance, not an ordinary savings account.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| A provision is always cash in a drawer. | A provision is an accounting recognition of an expected liability or expense. |
| The provision were recorded. | The provision was recorded. |
| Provision means profit only. | A provision often reduces reported profit. |
| The tax provision paid itself. | The tax provision was recorded as an expense or liability. |
Use context to choose the meaning. Provision of usually means supplying, provision in a contract means a clause, provision for means preparation, and accounting provision is technical.
The preposition matters: provision of services, provision for emergencies, provision in a contract. Changing it can change the meaning.
From Latin provisio, meaning foresight or preparation, from providere, to foresee or provide. The modern senses keep the ideas of supplying, arranging, and preparing in advance.
What does provision mean?
It can mean supplying something, a legal clause, preparation for a future need, or an accounting amount for an expected liability.
What does provision of services mean?
It means the supplying or providing of services.
What is a contract provision?
It is a clause, condition, or requirement in a contract.
What does provision for emergencies mean?
It means preparation or arrangements made in advance for emergencies.
What is an accounting provision?
It is an amount recognized for an expected liability or expense whose timing or exact amount is uncertain.
Is provision countable?
It can be countable in legal uses, as in several provisions, and uncountable in supply uses.
How do you use provision in a sentence?
For example: The law includes a provision for appeal.