Provisorisk

Provisorisk is an adjective used in Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish to describe something temporary or provisional, intended to be replaced or finalized later. It is commonly applied to arrangements, measures, buildings, or statuses that are not permanent.

The term originates from the French provisoire, which goes back to Latin provisorius. It is cognate with the English word provisional and is used in similar contexts across the Scandinavian languages.

Usage spans several domains. In official and administrative language, provisorisk marks temporary or interim status, such as provisional arrangements or provisional measures. In everyday language, it describes anything not yet permanent, from plans and solutions to physical structures like buildings that are meant to be replaced or upgraded later. The word is often paired with nouns to signal that the current state is intended to be revisited or formalized later.

Nuance and contrasts are notable. Provisorisk conveys a planned temporality rather than an indefinitely uncertain state. It differs from more everyday synonyms for temporary, such as midlertidig or tillfällig, by signaling an intentional, often formal, intermediate stage within a larger process or decision.

Overall, provisorisk functions as a neutral, descriptive term across the Scandinavian languages to denote interim status, provisional decisions, or temporary implementations that are expected to be superseded by permanent arrangements.