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Provisional vs Preliminary - What's the difference?

provisional | preliminary |

As adjectives the difference between provisional and preliminary

is that provisional is temporary while preliminary is in preparation for the main matter; initial, introductory, preparatory.

As nouns the difference between provisional and preliminary

is that provisional is a postage stamp issued locally before an official issue is released while preliminary is a preparation for a main matter; an introduction.

provisional

English

Adjective

(head)
  • temporary

    • Noun

  • (philately) a postage stamp issued locally before an official issue is released.

    • preliminary

    English

    (wikipedia preliminary)

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Adjective

    (-)
  • in preparation for the main matter; initial, introductory, preparatory
    • These are just the preliminary results.
  • *
    • And then, after a few preliminary tries, the whole farm burst out into 'Beasts of England' in tremendous unison.

    Antonyms

    * definitive, final

    Derived terms

    * preliminarily * preliminary results * preliminary considerations

    Noun

    (preliminaries)
  • A preparation for a main matter; an introduction
  • Any of a series of sports events that determine the finalists
  • A relatively minor contest that precedes a major one, especially in boxing