vorläufig

Vorläufig is a German term used as both an adverb and an adjective. It denotes something that is temporary, provisional, or in effect for the time being, and not yet final or settled. As an adjective, it can modify nouns such as eine vorläufige Lösung, vorläufige Maßnahmen oder eine vorläufige Genehmigung. As an adverb, it qualifies verbs or clauses: Die Entscheidung wurde vorläufig getroffen, meaning that the decision is not final.

Usage and nuance: vorläufig emphasizes temporariness and contingency. In legal, administrative or bureaucratic contexts it signals that a measure, arrangement, or status is subject to change upon later review or final decision. It is often used in contrast to the eventual, legally binding outcome, for example vorläufiger Bescheid or vorläufige Auskunft in matters awaiting final determination. In everyday language it can describe plans, agreements, or arrangements that are currently valid but subject to revision.

Synonyms and related terms: provisorisch is close but can be more formal or technical; temporär describes duration without necessarily implying pending final decision; behelfsmäßig suggests improvised or makeshift. The choice among these terms depends on context, formality, and whether a final ruling is explicitly anticipated.

Translations and equivalents: in English, vorläufig is commonly translated as provisional or temporary, depending on the nuance. In translation, one should consider whether the sense is explicitly about pending final status (provisional) or about a temporary condition (temporary).

See also: the term frequently appears in official documents and court notices, where phrases like vorläufige Maßnahmen or vorläufige Entscheidung reflect its function as a marker of non-final status.