provisional

Everyday

1. Provisional means for now, not final, and likely to change later. tree →
2. (UK) A provisional driving licence is the first licence a learner driver gets. tree →

In the lessons

In school life, provisional dates, results or plans may change; in maths and science a provisional answer is a first estimate to check. In UK everyday life learners have a provisional licence and L plates. Phrases: provisional date, provisional results, provisional licence.

Examples

• The trip is on a provisional date of 5 May. tree →
• These results are provisional and may change. tree →
• My sister got her provisional licence. tree →
• The team list is provisional until Friday. tree →
• The provisional government ran the country after the revolution. tree →
• This is a provisional plan, so check again later. tree →

Note

Opposite: final, definite. From «provision» (arranging for the future). A provisional number in a problem may be updated later.