Provide vs. Provision: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Provide means to supply or make available something needed, while provision refers to the act of supplying something or a stipulation set out in an agreement or law.
Key Differences
Provide is a verb that refers to the action of supplying or making something available. Provision, on the other hand, is a noun that refers to the items supplied or the act of supplying.
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Dec 05, 2023
Provide is commonly used in contexts where someone is actively supplying what is needed. Provision often refers to the supplies themselves or the act of planning and preparing for future needs.
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Dec 05, 2023
Provide can refer to supplying a wide range of things, from physical items to services or information. Provisions typically refer to tangible items, especially supplies of food or equipment.
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Dec 05, 2023
In legal or contractual contexts, provision often refers to a specific clause or condition set forth in a document. Provide is less specific and is used in a broader range of contexts.
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Dec 05, 2023
Provision implies a sense of planning and preparedness, often associated with securing necessities for future use. Provide focuses more on the act of supplying in the present.
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Dec 05, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Typical Context
Actively supplying or making available.
Supplies themselves or the act of supplying.
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Application
Broad, ranging from items to services.
Often specific to tangible items like food or equipment.
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Legal/Contractual Use
General supply action.
Specific clauses or conditions in a document.
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Implication
Focus on current action of supplying.
Planning and preparation for future needs.
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Provide and Provision Definitions
Provide
To furnish or equip with something.
They provided the team with new uniforms.
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Provision
The action of providing or supplying something.
Provision of adequate healthcare is essential.
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Provide
To supply what is needed.
She provided the necessary tools for the project.
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Provision
Supplies of food, drink, or equipment, especially for a journey.
They made provisions for the long trek.
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Provide
To give what is necessary or required.
The scholarship provides financial assistance to students.
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Provision
A clause in a legal document stipulating a condition.
The contract included a provision for early termination.
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Provide
To make available (something needed or desired); furnish
Provide food and shelter for a family.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
A stipulation or qualification made beforehand.
The plan had several provisions regarding safety.
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Dec 05, 2023
Provide
To supply something needed or desired to
Provided her family with food.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
The act of providing or supplying something
The provision of health care.
The provision of rations.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
To have as an available or desirable feature; afford
A room that provides ample sunlight through French windows.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
The act of making preparations for a possible or future event or situation
The provision for retirement requires planning.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
To set down as a stipulation or requirement
An agreement that provides deadlines for completion of the work.
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Provision
Something provided
A fire escape is an important provision in a building.
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Provision
Provisions Necessary supplies, such as food and clothing, as for a journey.
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Provide
To take measures in preparation
Provided for the common defense of the states in time of war.
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Provision
A preparatory action or measure
We must make provisions for riding out the storm.
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Provide
To supply means of subsistence
She provides for her family by working in a hospital.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
A particular requirement in a law, rule, agreement, or document
The constitutional provision concerned with due process.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
To make a stipulation or requirement
The Constitution provides for a bicameral legislature.
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Provide
To make a living; earn money for necessities.
It is difficult to provide for my family working on minimum wage.
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Provision
To take preparatory action or measures
A bank must provision against losses from bad loans.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
An item of goods or supplies, especially food, obtained for future use.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
To establish as a previous condition; to stipulate.
The contract provides that the work be well done.
I'll lend you the money, provided that you pay it back by Monday.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
To give what is needed or desired, especially basic needs.
Don't bother bringing equipment, as we will provide it.
We aim to provide the local community with more green spaces.
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Provision
(accounting) A liability or contra account to recognise likely future adverse events associated with current transactions.
We increased our provision for bad debts on credit sales going into the recession.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
To make possible or attainable.
He provides us with an alternative option.
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Provision
(law) A clause in a legal instrument, a law, etc., providing for a particular matter; stipulation; proviso.
An arrest shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
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Provision
(Roman Catholicism) Regular induction into a benefice, comprehending nomination, collation, and installation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
To appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant. See provisor.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
A nomination by the pope to a benefice before it became vacant, depriving the patron of his right of presentation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
To look out for in advance; to procure beforehand; to get, collect, or make ready for future use; to prepare.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
To supply; to afford; to contribute.
Bring me berries, or such cooling fruitAs the kind, hospitable woods provide.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
To supply (a user) with an account, resources, etc. so that they can use a system.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
To establish as a previous condition; to stipulate; as, the contract provides that the work be well done.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
That which is provided or prepared; that which is brought together or arranged in advance; measures taken beforehand; preparation.
Making provision for the relief of strangers.
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Provision
Especially, a stock of food; any kind of eatables collected or stored; - often in the plural.
And of provisions laid in large,For man and beast.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
To appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant. See Provisor.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
That which is stipulated in advance; a condition; a previous agreement; a proviso; as, the provisions of a contract; the statute has many provisions.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
To procure supplies or means in advance; to take measures beforehand in view of an expected or a possible future need, especially a danger or an evil; - followed by against or for; as, to provide against the inclemency of the weather; to provide for the education of a child.
Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
A canonical term for regular induction into a benefice, comprehending nomination, collation, and installation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
To stipulate previously; to condition; as, the agreement provides for an early completion of the work.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
A nomination by the pope to a benefice before it became vacant, depriving the patron of his right of presentation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
Provide or furnish with;
We provided the room with an electrical heater
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
To supply with food; to victual; as, to provision a garrison.
They were provisioned for a journey.
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
Provide what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance;
The hostess provided lunch for all the guests
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
Determine (what is to happen in certain contingencies), especially by including a proviso condition or stipulation;
The will provides that each child should receive half of the money
The Constitution provides for the right to free speech
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
The cognitive process of thinking about what you will do in the event of something happening;
His planning for retirement was hindered by several uncertainties
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
Make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain;
This leaves no room for improvement
The evidence allows only one conclusion
Allow for mistakes
Leave lots of time for the trip
This procedure provides for lots of leeway
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
A store or supply of something (especially of food or clothing or arms)
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
Supply means of subsistence; earn a living;
He provides for his large family by working three jobs
Women nowadays not only take care of the household but also bring home the bacon
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Oct 19, 2023
Provide
Take measures in preparation for;
Provide for the proper care of the passengers on the cruise ship
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Oct 19, 2023
Provision
The act of preparing for future needs.
Emergency provision is a part of disaster management.
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Dec 05, 2023
Provide
To make something available.
The hospital provides care to all patients.
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Provide
To make arrangements or preparations.
The event planner provided for every contingency.
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Dec 05, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
How do companies provide customer support?
By offering assistance and resources to address customer needs.
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Dec 05, 2023
What are food provisions?
Supplies of food, often for a specific purpose or journey.
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What does it mean to provide services?
To offer or supply services to others.
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Can an individual provide advice?
Yes, offering guidance or recommendations is a form of providing.
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Dec 05, 2023
What is a legal provision?
A clause or condition specified in a legal document.
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How do governments make provisions for emergencies?
By planning and setting aside resources for potential crises.
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Is providing always active?
Yes, it involves actively supplying or making available.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can an organization provide training?
Yes, offering educational or skill development activities.
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What does provision in a contract mean?
A specific clause or condition within the contract.
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Can an app provide notifications?
Yes, sending alerts or messages is a form of providing.
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What is a tax provision?
A condition or clause in tax legislation or regulations.
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How is provision used in budgeting?
As setting aside or allocating resources for specific purposes.
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Can provision be a verb?
Yes, but it's less common and means to supply with provisions.
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Dec 05, 2023
Does provide imply immediacy?
Often, as it relates to current supply actions.
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Dec 05, 2023
Is providing information important?
Yes, it's key in communication, education, and service sectors.
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Dec 05, 2023
What are military provisions?
Supplies and equipment prepared for military use.
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Dec 05, 2023
How do you provision a boat?
By stocking it with necessary supplies for a voyage.
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Dec 05, 2023
What's an example of providing support?
Giving emotional or practical help to someone in need.
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Dec 05, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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