provision

provision — noun

1. when someone makes something that others need available to them — for example, s

1.nounB2
Definition

when someone makes something that others need available to them — for example, supplying clean water to a village, or equipment to workers.

Example

The NGO is responsible for the provision of clean water to remote villages in the highlands.

provision of [something] to [recipient]

A clause in the contract covers the provision of safety equipment by the employer.

Common collocations
  • provision of services
  • provision of care
  • provision of housing
  • provision of equipment
Synonyms
  • supply

    more concrete; can refer to both the act and the quantity provided

  • providing

    less formal, used in everyday speech rather than institutional writing

  • furnishing

    more formal, typically used for equipping a space with furniture or fixtures

Antonyms
  • withholding

    deliberately keeping something from being available

Grammar Patterns

provision of [something] to [someone]

Usage Note

Often followed by 'of' plus a noun phrase describing what is supplied. Uncountable in this sense — do not use 'a provision' or 'provisions' when referring to the act of supplying.

Common Mistakes

The school made a provision of books to students.
The school ensured the provision of books to all students.
Sense 1 is uncountable and does not take 'a'.

2. supplies of food, drink, and other basic items needed to survive, especially whe

2.nounB1
Definition

supplies of food, drink, and other basic items needed to survive, especially when stored for a journey or a period away from shops.

Example

The hikers packed enough provisions for the five-day trek through the Rocky Mountains.

plural: provisions for [duration / purpose]

Before the storm arrived, the Kim family stocked up on provisions like canned food and bottled water.

collocation: stock up on provisions

Common collocations
  • emergency provisions
  • food provisions
  • stock up on provisions
  • provisions for the journey
Synonyms
  • supplies

    broader — can include non-food items such as tools and medicine

  • stores

    emphasises stock kept for later use, often on a ship or in a warehouse

  • rations

    limited to food, especially in military or emergency settings

Grammar Patterns

provisions for [purpose / duration]

Usage Note

Almost always used in the plural (provisions). When 'provision' appears in the singular, it generally refers to a different meaning (see senses 1, 3, 4, and 5).

Common Mistakes

We bought a provision for the trip.
We bought provisions for the trip.
The supply-of-food meaning requires the plural form.

3. a specific condition or requirement written into a legal document, contract, or

3.nounC1
Definition

a specific condition or requirement written into a legal document, contract, or law that states what must or must not happen.

Example

The contract includes a provision that allows either party to cancel within thirty days.

provision + that-clause stating a condition

Under the provisions of the new immigration law, visa applicants must show proof of employment.

prepositional: under the provisions of [law]

Common collocations
  • contractual provision
  • legal provision
  • under the provisions of
  • provision in the agreement
Synonyms
  • clause

    more specific — a clause is a distinct section within a contract; a provision may be part of a clause

  • stipulation

    more formal, focusing on the requirement aspect

  • condition

    broader; a condition can be agreed verbally, while a provision is written

Grammar Patterns

provision in [document]

under the provisions of [law]

provision that + clause

Usage Note

Subject is usually a legal document (contract, law, treaty, lease). Frequently paired with verbs such as 'include', 'contain', 'add', or 'violate'.

Common Mistakes

The provision said I must pay within 30 days.' (grammatically correct but imprecise).
The contract includes a provision stating that payment is due within 30 days.
In legal contexts, it is clearer to specify which document contains the provision.

4. money that a business keeps in its financial records to pay for a future cost or

4.nounC1
Definition

money that a business keeps in its financial records to pay for a future cost or loss that is likely but not yet certain.

Example

The company set aside a provision of two million dollars to cover potential legal costs.

provision of [amount] to cover [liability]

The bank increased its provisions for bad loans after the economic downturn affected many borrowers.

collocation: provisions for bad loans

Common collocations
  • provisions for bad debts
  • tax provisions
  • loan loss provision
  • set aside a provision
Synonyms
  • reserve

    broader — reserves include retained earnings, while provisions are for specific expected losses

  • allowance

    used in phrases like 'allowance for doubtful accounts', more common in US accounting

  • accrual

    refers to expenses already incurred but not yet paid, slightly different from a provision for future losses

Grammar Patterns

provision for [liability / expense]

set aside a provision

Usage Note

Domain-specific to accounting and corporate finance. Usually appears in plural form (provisions) when referring to ongoing reserves. This sense is distinct from 'provision' in sense 5 (preparation) because it involves recording a specific figure in financial statements.

Common Mistakes

The company made a provision for new office chairs.' (using the accounting sense for non-financial purchases).
The company set aside a provision for potential legal costs.
In accounting, a provision is always for an anticipated liability or loss, not a routine expense.

5. steps taken ahead of time to be ready for a possible need later, especially when

5.nounB2
Definition

steps taken ahead of time to be ready for a possible need later, especially when money or caring for someone is involved.

Example

The couple made provision for their children's education by starting a college savings fund early.

phrase: make provision for [future need]

Feng's will made provision for his elderly parents to receive monthly financial support.

Common collocations
  • make provision for
  • provision for retirement
  • provision for the future
Synonyms
  • preparation

    broader; preparation can refer to any readiness activity, while 'provision' is more about ensuring resources

  • arrangement

    more neutral; 'arrangements' can be for definite plans, whereas 'provision' implies dealing with uncertainty

  • planning ahead

    phrasal and less formal, emphasising the forward-looking aspect

Antonyms
  • neglect

    failing to prepare for future needs

Grammar Patterns

make provision for [future need]

Usage Note

Most commonly appears in the fixed expression 'make provision for'. Unlike sense 1 (SUPPLYING), this sense is about advance planning rather than the act of providing something directly.

Common Mistakes

We made provision for food for the party.' (vague — the party is not a future contingency).
We made provision for unexpected guests by buying extra food.
Sense 5 is for preparing for possible future events, not routine arrangements.

provision — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Provision, supply, providing, furnishing, and allocation all refer to making something available, but they differ in formality and scope. 'Provision' (noun sense 1) emphasises the organised process of ensuring that something needed is available, often in institutional or official contexts — for example, 'the provision of public healthcare'. 'Supply' is more concrete and can refer to both the act and the quantity provided ('the supply of electricity to the factory'). 'Providing' is the everyday gerund form and is less formal than 'provision', as in 'the company is responsible for providing lunch'. 'Furnishing' is limited to equipping a space with furniture, fixtures, or basic fittings ('furnishing the new offices'). 'Allocation' focuses on distributing a limited resource among competing recipients ('the allocation of funds to each department'). In formal writing, 'provision' is the best choice for describing a systemic guarantee of availability, while 'supply' works better for physical goods and 'providing' for routine actions.

supply ↗providingfurnishingallocation ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • food provisions
  • emergency provisions
  • legal provisions
  • financial provisions

Adverbs

  • adequately provisioned
  • fully provisioned
  • well provisioned

Phrases

  • make provision for
  • under the provisions of
  • set aside a provision

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'provision' entered English in the 14th century from Old French 'provision', which came from Latin 'provisio' (foresight, providing). The Latin root 'providere' combines 'pro-' (before) and 'videre' (to see), so the original meaning was 'to see ahead' — making arrangements in advance, which is still at the heart of several modern senses.