How to pronounce provisory
Say it like pruh-VY-zuh-ree. Provisory has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce provisory. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pruh
- VY
- zuh
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Provisory pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- VYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- zuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of provisory
American and British speakers say provisory in essentially the same way: /prəˈvaɪzəri/ in the US and /prəˈvaɪzəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: pruh-VY-zuh-ree.
What does provisory mean?
- Temporary; pending something more permanent.
- Containing a proviso or condition.“The provisory clause effectively excluded his otherwise logical heirs from his main inheritance.”
- Dependent on a proviso or condition.“A provisory guarantee is rather like blackmail.”
- Synonym of provisional.
Where does provisory come from?
From Medieval Latin provisorius, from provis- (supine stem of provideo) + -orius (“-ory”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with provisory
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of provisory.
Questions about saying provisory
How do you pronounce provisory?
Say pruh-VY-zuh-ree. The American pronunciation is /prəˈvaɪzəri/. In British English it is /prəˈvaɪzəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in provisory?
Provisory has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VY). Broken into parts: pruh · VY · zuh · ree.
Do Americans and Brits say provisory the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /prəˈvaɪzəri/ and the British form is /prəˈvaɪzəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.