transitional

transitional — adjective

1. happening during the time when something moves from one system, condition, or si

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

happening during the time when something moves from one system, condition, or situation to another — for example, a transitional government that manages a country while a new constitution is being written, or a transitional period between leaving home and settling into independent adult life.

Example

The transitional government organised the country's first democratic elections in two decades.

transitional + government for temporary political arrangements

Defne saw the transitional year between school and work as a time of personal growth.

Common collocations
  • transitional period
  • transitional phase
  • transitional stage
  • transitional government
  • transitional arrangement
  • transitional measure
  • transitional provision
  • transitional housing
  • transitional justice
Synonyms
  • interim

    focuses on the temporary arrangement filling a gap, not the process of change itself

  • provisional

    emphasises that something is arranged for now and will be replaced later, often in official contexts

  • intermediate

    describes a stage or position between two others, with less emphasis on active change

  • stopgap

    informal; refers to a temporary fix that works for a short time but is not ideal

Antonyms
  • permanent

    not subject to change; intended to last indefinitely

  • final

    at the end of a process, with no further change expected

  • stable

    not changing or likely to change; settled

Usage Note

Frequently used with nouns describing periods, arrangements, or stages (transitional period, transitional phase, transitional government). The word carries a formal tone; in everyday conversation, 'in-between' or 'interim' are more common alternatives. Distinguish from 'temporary': 'temporary' emphasises limited duration, while 'transitional' stresses that a change from one state to another is in progress.

Common Mistakes

This is only a transitional solution to the budget problem.
This is only a temporary solution to the budget problem.
'transitional' refers to change from one state to another, not just short duration; use 'temporary' when duration is the key meaning.

Word family

  • transition
    nounB2
  • transitionally
    adverbC1
  • transit
    nounB2
  • transitive
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe situations that are not final or permanent, but they differ in emphasis. 'Interim' is used for arrangements that fill a gap until a permanent solution is ready (an interim CEO during a search). 'Provisional' carries a sense of official or formal arrangement that will be reviewed or replaced (a provisional driving licence). 'Temporary' focuses on limited duration rather than the direction of change (a temporary parking permit). 'Intermediate' describes a step or level between two others without implying change is actively happening (an intermediate language course). Use 'transitional' when the movement from one state to another is the core idea. For example: after the coup, a transitional council prepared the country for elections — here 'interim council' would suggest only duration, missing the sense of political transformation.

interim ↗provisional ↗temporary ↗intermediate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • transitional period of
  • in a transitional state
  • transitional arrangement between

Prepositions

  • transitional from
  • transitional to

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Derived from the noun 'transition', which comes from Latin 'transitio' (a going across or over), formed from 'trans-' (across) and 'ire' (to go). The suffix '-al' turns the noun into an adjective meaning 'relating to'. The word entered English in the mid-17th century, originally used in scientific and philosophical contexts before broadening to general use.