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provisoire
/pʁɔ.vi.zwaʁ/
temporary
Nous avons trouvé un logement provisoire en attendant de déménager.
We found a temporary place to live while waiting to move.
neutral
Lasting for a short or limited time; not permanent.
Le gouvernement a mis en place des mesures provisoires pour stabiliser l'économie.
The government implemented temporary measures to stabilize the economy.
Il a signé un contrat provisoire avant de trouver un emploi permanent.
He signed a temporary contract before finding a permanent job.
Often used in administrative, legal, or business contexts to describe interim arrangements.
Collocations
solution provisoiretemporary solutionlogement provisoiretemporary housingmesures provisoirestemporary measurescontrat provisoiretemporary contract
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'provisionnel'
'Provisionnel' (adjective) refers to something related to a provisional arrangement or estimate, often in financial contexts (e.g., 'un budget provisionnel' = a provisional budget). 'Provisoire' is more general and can describe any temporary situation.
Gold Rule
When to use 'provisoire'
Use 'provisoire' when describing something that is explicitly temporary and not meant to be permanent. It implies a sense of urgency or necessity for the temporary state (e.g., 'un logement provisoire' = a temporary place to live because you need shelter now).
Word Origin
From Latin *provisorius*, derived from *providere* ('to foresee' or 'to prepare'), via Old French *provisoire*.
Usage Notes
Used to describe something that is not intended to last but serves a purpose until a permanent solution is found. Common in legal, administrative, and everyday contexts.
Word Breakdown
pro-
before
prefix-vis-
to see
root-oire
adjective-forming suffix
suffixDictionnaire Français-Anglais