providing

Providing is the act of supplying or making available something that is needed or desired. It can refer to goods, services, information, or opportunities, and is used in everyday language as well as in business, policy, and law. The word derives from the Latin providere, meaning to foresee and supply.

In grammar, providing is the present participle of provide. It appears in two main ways: as part of verb phrases in continuous tenses (they are providing meals) and as a conjunction meaning "on the condition that" (providing you arrive by noon, we will start). Careful punctuation is often required with the conjunction use, e.g., providing that the funds are approved, the project can proceed.

In economics and public policy, provision refers to the act or process of supplying goods and services. Public provisioning encompasses essential services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure, while private provisioning refers to market-based supply by firms. The noun "provisions" can also mean supplies, especially food and equipment.

In contract drafting, "providing that" clauses specify conditions or exceptions, and "provisions" refer to the detailed terms of an agreement. Related terms include provide (the verb), provision (a single supply or requirement), and provider (one who supplies).