WordValeproviso
a condition attached to an agreement
a conditional clause
In more detail
1. (noun) a condition or requirement that must be agreed to before something can happen
2. (noun) a clause in a legal document that states an exception or special condition
Examples
- 1. They agreed to sell the house with the proviso that the buyer would maintain the garden.
- 2. The contract includes a proviso that allows either party to cancel within 30 days.
How to use proviso
Proviso is a formal, often legal term used to describe a condition that must be satisfied or an exception to an agreement. It appears most commonly in contracts, official documents, and formal discourse, typically introduced by the phrase 'with the proviso that'. It is more specific and weighty than the casual term 'condition' and carries a more technical register than 'requirement'.
Common phrases
- with the proviso that
- subject to a proviso
- an important proviso
- legal proviso
- add a proviso
Synonyms
condition · requirement · stipulation · qualification · clause
Word family
provisos (plural)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes treat proviso as countable when it should be, forgetting that the plural is 'provisos' (not 'provisoes'); they may also use it in informal speech where 'condition' or 'requirement' would be more natural.
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