An item of goods or supplies, especially food, obtained for future use.
provision — Definition and meaning
• The act of providing, or making previous preparation.
• Money set aside for a future event.
• A liability or contra account to recognise likely future adverse events associated with current transactions.
• A clause in a legal instrument, a law, etc., providing for a particular matter; stipulation; proviso.
• Regular induction into a benefice, comprehending nomination, collation, and installation.
• A nomination by the pope to a benefice before it became vacant, depriving the patron of his right of presentation.
(Verb) To supply with provisions.
• To supply (a user) with an account, resources, etc. so that they can use a system; to install the necessary software on a bare-bones system so it can be used for a specific purpose.
The importance of provision
provision appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
How provision is applied
In practice, provision is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.